LONE RANGER: BAYELSA DEPUTY GOVERNOR SEEKS COURT’S INTERVENTION AS STATE ASSEMBLY DANGLES IMPEACHMENT OVER HIS REFUSAL TO DECAMP FROM PDP

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has filed a lawsuit against the State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and several other key officials over an alleged plot to remove him from office.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2212025 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Ewhrudjakpo claimed that members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly were being pressured to impeach him because he refused to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), unlike the governor, Douye Diri, who recently stepped down from the party.

His lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, told the court that there were ongoing moves to force the deputy governor out of office for remaining in the PDP. He also alleged that some local government chairpersons, including Sagbama LGA’s Mrs. Alice Tange, were facing threats of removal for the same reason.

After hearing the application on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered all the defendants to appear before the court and explain why the interim reliefs requested by Ewhrudjakpo should not be granted. The judge ruled that justice would be best served by allowing them to “show cause” before making any further decisions.

Those listed as defendants in the case include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Attorney General of Bayelsa State, the State Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.

Justice Nwite fixed November 13 as the date for the defendants to appear in court. He also stated that if they fail to do so, the motion on notice filed by the deputy governor would be heard and decided.

Among his requests, Ewhrudjakpo seeks an order stopping the defendants from removing or impeaching him for refusing to leave the PDP before the end of his four-year term. He also asked the court to prevent any meetings, sittings, or conferences by the Assembly aimed at initiating impeachment proceedings.

Additionally, he requested an order barring the recognition or appointment of any member of another political party as deputy governor while he remains in office. Ewhrudjakpo further asked the court to restrain the police, the DSS, and the state’s Attorney General from withdrawing his security details until the case is fully heard.