Bayelsa Assembly Confirms Peter Akpe as New Deputy Governor

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the nomination of Peter Akpe as the new Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

Akpe was nominated by Governor Douye Diri following the death of the former deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in December 2025.

Before his confirmation, Akpe served as Chief of Staff at the Government House in Yenagoa. A seasoned administrator and politician, he previously represented his constituency for two terms in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. He rose through the civil service to become a Director before transitioning into key political roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff.

Akpe holds a PhD and is also a Christian minister, widely addressed as Hon. (Dr) or Pastor Peter Akpe.

Ewhrudjakpo reportedly collapsed while heading to a scheduled meeting in his office and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, where he was pronounced dead. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who described the incident as a moment of “deep regret and profound shock.”

Governor Diri declared three days of mourning in the state, ordering flags to fly at half-mast. He described the late deputy governor’s passing as a significant loss to Bayelsa and the nation, and directed that an autopsy be conducted to determine the cause of death.

The governor also extended condolences to Ewhrudjakpo’s wife, Beatrice, his children, the Ewhrudjakpo family, the Ofoni Federated Community, former governor Henry Seriake Dickson, and the people of Bayelsa State.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid tribute to Ewhrudjakpo, describing him as a principled and consistent leader whose life reflected integrity and strong convictions. He served as deputy governor from 2020 until his death, having been elected alongside Governor Diri in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.

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