JUST IN: Bayelsa Assembly Confirms Peter Akpe As Deputy Governor

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Peter Akpe as the new Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

Akpe, who until his confirmation served as Chief of Staff at Government House, Yenagoa, was nominated by Governor Douye Diri following the vacancy created by the death of former Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo in December 2025.

A seasoned public administrator and politician, Akpe is a former two-term member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. He rose through the civil service to the rank of Director before transitioning into senior political roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff.

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

Vacancy Created by Ewhrudjakpo’s Death

Akpe’s confirmation comes months after the passing of Ewhrudjakpo, who died in December 2025.

In a statement issued by the state government, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, announced the deputy governor’s death with “deep regret and profound shock.”

According to the statement, Ewhrudjakpo had been active and performing official duties earlier in the day before he collapsed while heading to a scheduled meeting within his office. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, where he was later confirmed dead.

Following the incident, Governor Diri declared three days of mourning in the state, directing that flags be flown at half-mast. He described the development as “a great loss to the Government and people of Bayelsa State and the nation.”

The governor also ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of the deputy governor’s death.

Diri 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, praying for comfort and strength for them.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan also signed a condolence register in honour of the late deputy governor at the Government House in Yenagoa on December 11, 2025.

PDP Reacts

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described Ewhrudjakpo as “a principled and consistent politician… a person of conviction, not convenience; a leader whose life was anchored on belief, integrity and strength of character.”

Ewhrudjakpo served as deputy governor from 2020 until his death, having been elected alongside Diri in 2019 and re-elected in 2023.