The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has filed a lawsuit against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and other officials, over an alleged plot to remove him from office through impeachment.
In an originating summons filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, through his lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo alleged that members of the State House of Assembly were being pressured to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
The alleged move stemmed from his refusal to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after Governor Douye Diri left the party.
The suit also claimed that some local government chairmen, including Alice Tange of Sagbama Local Government Area, were facing threats of removal for not defecting alongside the governor.
Justice Emeka Nwite, after hearing the ex-parte motion, ordered all defendants to appear in court to show cause why interim reliefs sought by the Deputy Governor should not be granted.
The defendants listed in the suit include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the IGP, the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), the Attorney General of Bayelsa State, the Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
The interim reliefs sought by Ewhrudjakpo include restraining the defendants from removing or impeaching him in violation of provisions of Sections 188(5)–(11) and Section 36(1) of the Constitution, prohibiting the initiation of impeachment notices or proceedings against him due to his decision not to defect from the PDP before the end of his four-year tenure, preventing the defendants from conducting meetings or recognizing any APC member as the deputy governor.
The deputy governor also sought relief for maintaining his security protection as Deputy Governor pending the court’s ruling.
Justice Nwite adjourned proceedings to Nov. 13 for the defendants to show cause, warning that failure to do so may result in the court hearing the motion on notice.
The case highlighted growing political tensions in Bayelsa State following Governor Diri’s departure from the PDP, while Ewhrudjakpo has remained in the party.
Observers noted that the lawsuit could set important precedents regarding the constitutional protection of elected officials against forced party defection and politically motivated impeachment attempts.
