The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday confirmed the sudden death of the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who reportedly collapsed at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who was 60 years old at the time of his passing, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, where he was pronounced dead. Sources close to the late Deputy Governor, fondly called the “Workaholic Deputy Governor”, suggested the cause of death might have been cardiac arrest, linked to his demanding workload.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon while Senator Ewhrudjakpo was attending to official duties.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on whose platform he was elected, confirmed his death in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong. The party described him as a trusted, faithful party man and expressed grief over the painful and irreparable loss.
A lawyer by profession, Senator Ewhrudjakpo had a long career in Bayelsa politics. He served under then-Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, as the Commissioner for Works (2012-2018), overseeing the construction of the Bayelsa International Airport.
He was elected to represent the Bayelsa West Senatorial District in 2019.
He was sworn in alongside Governor Douye Diri in February 2020, following the Supreme Court’s nullification of the victory of the opposition. He played an important role in resolving communal disputes and chaired the Nigerian International Coastal Border Platform.
He was known for his love of law and education, consistently lecturing law students at Niger Delta University on a pro bono basis, intending to return to teaching after his political tenure.
Ewhrudjakpo remained loyal to the PDP, creating a strained working relationship with Governor Diri.
He had recently approached a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to halt a planned impeachment by the state House of Assembly over his refusal to defect.
Meanwhile, Governor Diri publicly stated that he would not force his deputy to join the APC, stressing on the need for dialogue and calling for an end to political conflict in the state.
Ewhrudjakpo was allegedly rumoured to be harbouring ambitions for the 2027 Bayelsa State governorship election, with strong backing from his political mentor, Senator Seriake Dickson.
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