A cross-section of Bayelsa indigenes under the aegis of the Indigenes Without Borders Foundation (IWBF), on Tuesday, faulted the mode of service of the impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrujakpo.
They said the deputy governor ought not to be victimised for not defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the PDP – the platform he was elected into office as the number two citizen in Bayelsa.
Daily Trust reports that Ewhrujakpo had last month refused to join the governor, Duoye Diri and other State Assembly lawmakers in defecting to the APC, the development that reportedly angered the governor.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja at a press briefing, a member of the trustees of the IWBF, Hon Patrick Michael, said the mode of service on Ewhrujakpo was flawed because it did not pass through due process.
He argued that the deputy governor was only served an impeachment notice a day after the defection of the state governor to the APC through a statement published in the newspapers instead of serving him the notice personally as required by law.
IWBF, which is a Non-Governmental Organisation, maintained that Bayelsa Indigenes will not sit down and watch the victimisation of the deputy governor by some members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for no just reason.
In the notice of impeachment, dated October 15, 2025, and signed by 14 members of the Assembly, the lawmakers accused the Deputy Governor of gross misconduct, absconding from office and abandoning his official duties.
The lawmakers further alleged that Ewhrujakpo failed to resign his membership of the PDP during a political realignment meeting purportedly held at the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa, on October 15, 2025.
According to the letter, the Deputy Governor’s alleged conduct constitutes gross misconduct in the performance of his duties, warranting investigation and possible impeachment proceedings under constitutional provisions.
The notice reads in part, “Take notice that there is a notice of allegation against you of gross misconduct in the performance of your duties as Deputy Governor, Bayelsa State. A copy of the allegation is attached for your response in writing.”
The Assembly members urged the Speaker, Rt Hon. Abraham Ingobere, to serve the notice on the Deputy Governor and commence investigative proceedings in line with Section 188 of the Constitution.
Signatories to the notice include prominent members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, namely, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere (Brass Constituency 3), Dr. Charles Daniel (Brass Constituency 1), Tari Porri (Ekeremor Constituency 1), Living Mitin (Ekeremor Constituency 2, Michael Ogbere (Ekeremor Constituency 3, Werinipre Pamoh (Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency 1), Richard Ibegu (Ogbia Constituency 1, Sunday Bernard Kennel, Sagbama Constituency 2, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, Sagbama Constituency 3, Bonny Inikiyo Ayah, Southern Ijaw Constituency; Monday Bubo Obolo, Southern Ijaw Constituency 1, Moses Marlon, Southern Ijaw Constituency 3; and Mrs Ayibanengiyefa Egba, Yenagoa, Constituency 1
But a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House and five others to appear before it to show cause why they should not be stopped from making any move to impeach the deputy governor pending hearing and determination of a motion on notice to that effect.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order on October 27, while ruling on the ex-parte motion marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/2219/2025 filed by the Bayelsa state Deputy Governor against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Attorney General of Bayelsa state, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa state and the Clerk, Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
The plaintiff had, in the motion filed on October 17 prayed the court for an order of interim injunction directing the defendants to appear and show cause why the prayers for interim injunction in the motion on notice pending before the court should not be granted against them pending the hearing and determination of the aforesaid motion on notice.
He also prays for an order of court restraining the defendants from, “Removing or impeaching him as the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state arid by disregarding the provision of Section 188(5), (6), (7)(a), (b), (8), (9) and (11) and Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) on the decision of the plaintiff not to defect/decamp from the PDP to the APC or any registered political party before the expiration of his four years tenure as an elected deputy governor of Bayelsa state pending hearing of the motion on notice”.
The Deputy Governor also wants an order restraining the defendants from initiating an impeachment notice or impeachment proceedings/meetings of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly against him on his decision not to defect/decamp from the PDP to the APC before the expiration of his four-year tenure as an elected Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state, pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
He also seeks an order restraining the defendants from conducting any meeting, sitting, or conference for the purpose of initiating or igniting impeachment proceedings against him, as well as an order restraining the defendants from recognising and dealing with the appointment of any member of the APC as the Deputy Governor of the state pending the hearing of the Motion of Notice.
Ewhrudjakpo also wants the defendants restrained from conducting illegal and unlawful impeachment of the plaintiff and an order restraining the plans or moves to initiate impeachment proceedings against him for his refusal to resign his membership of the PDP along with the state governor, speaker of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly and 23 members of the state House of Assembly on October 15, 2025 at the state executive meeting in Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
He also seeks an order of court restraining the IGP, DSS Director and the Bayelsa state Attorney General from withdrawing his security protection as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
Upon reading the affidavit in support of the motion ex parte sworn to by one, Kareem Henry and after hearing arguments canvassed by plaintiff’s counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, the court, in a ruling delivered on October 27, granted prayer one in the interest of Justice.
According to Justice Nwite, “An order for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th defendants to appear and show cause why an order on interim injunction should not be granted” against the defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, which is seeking to restrain the defendants from making any move to impeach the deputy governor.
The court then adjourned the case till November 13 for the hearing of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction against the defendants.
As of press time, neither the Deputy Governor nor his media aides had issued an official statement regarding the allegations.
Political observers note that the move may signal deepening divisions within the Bayelsa State political structure, particularly following recent shifts in party loyalty involving the Governor and several Assembly members.
