Impeachment fear grips Bayelsa as deputy governor drags assembly, IGP to court

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has taken the state House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and several others to court over what he called a plot to remove him from office.

Ewhrudjakpo filed the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing members of the Assembly of being pressured to impeach him because he refused to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His boss, Governor Douye Diri, recently resigned from the PDP, but Ewhrudjakpo decided to stay in the party.

According to the Deputy Governor’s lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, some local government chairpersons like the Sagbama Council boss, Mrs. Alice Tangeare also being threatened with removal for not dumping the PDP.
After hearing the case on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered all the accused parties including the Bayelsa House of Assembly, the Speaker, the Chief Judge, the IGP, the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and the state’s Attorney General to appear in court and explain why they should not be stopped from taking any action against Ewhrudjakpo.

The judge said the order was necessary to ensure justice and fixed November 13 for the defendants to appear. If they fail to show up, the court will continue hearing the case without them.

Ewhrudjakpo is asking the court to stop any impeachment move against him and to prevent the police, SSS, or Attorney General from withdrawing his security.

He also wants the court to stop anyone from appointing a new deputy governor while his case is still being heard.