Politics
Court puts hold on impeachment moves against Bayelsa Deputy Gov
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and others to halt further moves to impeach the Deputy Governor of the state, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, until the determination of a motion on notice filed over the matter.
Justice Emeka Nwite also directed the Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly and five others to appear and show cause why they should not be stopped from making moves to impeach Deputy Governor Ewhrudjakpo,m over alleged misconduct relating to not defecting to another political party.
The judge gave the order on October 27 while ruling on an 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, Director, Department of State Services, Attorney General, the Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
Ewhrudjakpo 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 prayed 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 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (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.”
Ewhrudjakpo also requested an order restraining the defendants from initiating impeachment notice, 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.
Recall that the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Ewhrudjakpo, had fallen out with his boss, Duoye Diri, after he refused to join him in resigning from the PDP.
Ewhrudjakpo, an influential government figure, had enjoyed a cordial working relationship with Diri throughout their first tenure and early part of the second term before the defection crisis.
There are indications that Diri is still hopeful that Ewhrudjakpo will change his mind and join him, hence the delay in announcing his new party since leaving the PDP.
Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun
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