Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has died after collapsing at the Government House in Yenagoa on Thursday afternoon.
The Peoples Democratic Party officially confirmed his passing in a statement released Thursday night, sending waves of shock through the state’s political establishment.
Ewhrudjakpo, who was 60 years old, reportedly slumped while at work in his official office and was swiftly rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.
The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, expressed profound grief, describing the news as a “painful and irreparable loss.” The statement, issued on behalf of the party’s National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, referred to the late deputy governor as “a trusted, faithful party man.”
Born on September 5, 1965, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo had served as the Deputy Governor under Governor Douye Diri since 2020. His political career included representing the Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the 9th National Assembly from 2019 to 2020 before assuming the deputy governorship.
The PDP eulogized him as an “honest and consistent politician who believed in and practised politics with principle,” highlighting his reputation for integrity and strength of character. The party’s tribute noted he was “a person of conviction, not convenience” whose life was “anchored on belief, integrity, and strength of character.”
The sudden demise marks a significant moment for Bayelsa State, creating an immediate vacancy in the state’s second-highest executive office.
Governor Douye Diri and the entire state cabinet are expected to be plunged into mourning as they navigate the constitutional processes following the death of a deputy governor.
The PDP extended its heartfelt condolences to the state government and the people of Bayelsa, praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.
As a figure widely respected for his principled stance within the party, his death is anticipated to prompt an official period of mourning and tributes from across the Nigerian political landscape. The circumstances surrounding his sudden collapse have not been detailed, but his passing leaves a notable void in the leadership of the oil-rich Niger Delta state.
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