Bayelsa Deputy Governor Dies After Collapse at Government Office

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, died on Thursday after collapsing in his office in Yenagoa.

According to sources, Ewhrudjakpo reportedly slumped around 1:30 p.m. while descending a staircase shortly after a meeting. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

Hospital personnel said he arrived unconscious and was taken first to the Emergency Unit, then the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but medical efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

His media aide, Doubara Atasi, confirmed the development but declined to provide additional information.

As news spread, large crowds of sympathizers gathered at the hospital, prompting security officials to increase restrictions around the facility.

Born on September 5, 1965, Ewhrudjakpo had served as Bayelsa’s deputy governor since 2020. He previously represented Bayelsa West in the Senate and also served as Commissioner for Works.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, announced his passing and described the incident as “inexplicable.”

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, 60, a close associate of Senator Seriake Dickson, was among the party leaders who refused to join Governor Douye Diri in defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently.

Reports indicate that the deputy governor’s relationship with Governor Diri became strained after he declined to resign from the PDP on October 15. Though Diri publicly stated that no official would be compelled to defect, there were moves within the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to impeach Ewhrudjakpo.

In response, the late deputy governor filed a suit against the Assembly over the alleged impeachment plot. On October 27, the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Assembly from taking further steps on the matter.

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