The political tension in Bayelsa State has taken a legal turn as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and others to halt any further moves to impeach the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, pending the determination of a motion on notice filed before it.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling delivered on October 27, directed the Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly and five others to appear and show cause why they should not be restrained from proceeding with impeachment moves against Ewhrudjakpo over alleged misconduct linked to his refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to another political party.
The order followed an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2219/2025, filed by the Deputy Governor against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Attorney General, the Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
In the motion filed on October 17, Ewhrudjakpo prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from removing or impeaching him as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State in violation of Sections 188(5–11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), over his decision not to defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party before the expiration of his four-year tenure.
He also sought an order barring the defendants from initiating or continuing any impeachment process against him on the same grounds.
The motion further requested that the defendants be compelled to appear before the court and show cause why the prayers for interim injunction should not be granted pending the determination of the substantive motion.
Recall that the political relationship between Governor Douye Diri and his deputy reportedly turned sour after Ewhrudjakpo refused to follow him in resigning from the PDP.
Ewhrudjakpo, who had been a strong ally of the governor and played a crucial role in their electoral victories, was said to have maintained a cordial working relationship with Diri throughout their first tenure and the early part of their second term before the current defection crisis.
Sources close to Government House, Yenagoa, suggest that Governor Diri is still hopeful of reconciliation, as he has yet to formally declare his new political alignment since leaving the PDP.
The case is expected to come up soon for hearing on the motion on notice, where the court will decide whether to grant Ewhrudjakpo’s substantive prayers or vacate the interim order.
