Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has dragged the State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and several others before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over an alleged plot to impeach him for refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In an originating summons filed by his lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo alleged that members of the Bayelsa Assembly were under pressure to remove him from office because he declined to follow Governor Douye Diri, who recently resigned from the PDP.
The deputy governor claimed that the impeachment plot was politically motivated and targeted at punishing him for maintaining his membership in the PDP.
He also alleged that some local government chairmen, including that of Sagbama Local Government Area, Alice Tange, were being threatened with sack for the same reason.
After listening to his counsel’s ex-parte motion, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered all defendants — including the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the IGP, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, the Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly, to appear in court and show cause why the interim injunction sought by the plaintiff should not be granted.
Justice Nwite stated thatstated that the interest of justice would be best served by allowing the defendants to respond before issuing any restraining orders and adjourned the case to November 13November 13 for a a a hearing.
Ewhrudjakpo is seeking an order stopping the defendants from initiating or proceeding with any impeachment action against him on account of his refusal to defect to the APC.
He also wants the court to restrain the defendants from withdrawing his security protection or recognising any APC member as the deputy governor of the state.
The case has heightened political tension in Bayelsa, following Governor Diri’s defection and deepening divisions within the state’s ruling structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
