Tributes as Bayelsa govment announce death of Deputy govnor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

Di Deputy Govnor of Bayelsa State Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo don die, im party di Peoples Democratic Paty, PDP don confam,

Tori bin come out say Oga Ewhrudjakpo collapse and dem rush am go Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa on Thursday.

PDP wey announce im death for statement wey di national tok tok pesin Ini Ememobong sign say, dem receive di tori of im death wit deep shock.

E say di "deputy govnor na a trusted, faithful party man, wey reportedly collapse and die on Thursday 11 December, 2025."

Ememobong add say di devastating news don leave di National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and indeed di entire membership of di party, especially di faithful members in Bayelsa State, in serious grief.

"While alive, Senator Ewhrudjakpo bin be honest and consistent politician wey believe in and practice politics with principle.

E be pesin of conviction, not convenience; leader wey im life dey anchored on belief, integrity, and strength of character and e hold firmly to dis virtues until im final moments." E tok.

Bayelsa State Govment on Friday declare three days mourning sake of di death of di Deputy Govnor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

Commissioner for Information Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai for statement e announce to confam im death say Govnor Douye Diri don give order for flags to fly at half-mast for three working days starting from Friday 12 December 2025.

Di Govnor also tell sorry to wife di late Deputy Govnor, Madam Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo and im children, family, Ofoni community and di pipo of Bayelsa State.

Tori be say di incident hapun around 1:30pm (14:20 BST) wen di deputy govnor dey inside im office.

Di incident become emergency as dem carry am go di emergency unit of di federal medical centre (FMC) Bayelsa state.

To avoid crowd and manage information, security operatives block di hospital and only senior govment pipo na im dem clear to enta FMC.

Tributes pour in for Sen Ewhrudjakpor

More tributes dey pour in as many mourn di passing of Sen Ewhrudjakpo.

Former Govnor of Bayelsa State Sen Henry Seriake Dickson say e dey heartbroken since e confam say di Deputy Govnor don die

Sen Dickson describe am as "di best among my political mentees, wit rare combination of competence, intellect, loyalty and selflessness and e dey steadfast, even to di point of almost losing im office."

Di Oyo State govnor, Seyi Makinde, describe di death of di Bayelsa deputy govnor as sad and painful loss to di state and to di Peoples Democratic Party.

For statement wey im Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju release for Ibadan, di govnor express im condolences to di immediate family of di man wey die, di Bayelsa state govment, di pipo of di state, and di PDP family.

Deputy Govnor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele also dey shocked and sad with di tori.

She say e serve wit distinction as Chairman of di Coastal States International Boundary Platform, wey Ogun State na member and through dis role, e work wit di National Boundary Commission to advance dialogue, cooperation and development for coastal communities.

She say Ewhrudjakpo na amiable, jovial and thoughtful leader, wey genuinely dey passionate about di welfare and progress of Bayelsans and dem go miss am.

Deputy Governor, Cross River State Peter Agbe Odey say Ewhrudjakpo leadership shine bright as a beacon of wey hope for im pipo and e be "source of inspiration for us, Deputy Governors of Coastal States wey you lead as Chairman of Forum.

Your legacy go continue to inspire and motivate us to strive for excellence.”

For Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Bayelsa don lose a steadfast son and a committed public servant and e pray with all wey dey mourn dis tragedy.

Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo biography

Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo na politician from Ofoni for Sagbama local govment of Bayelsa State.

Dem born on September 1965 - im na 60-years-old.

E get im first and second degrees for di Rivers State University of Science and Technology Rivers state before e go Birmingham City University, United Kingdom wia e get Master of Law, LLM (International Human Rights Law).

Di deputy govnor start im career as a teacher before e join active politics for 2000 as Executive Secretary, Centre for Youth Development in Bayelsa State.

For 2005, e become Commissioner for Youth and Sports for Bayelsa and later for 2008 dem make am Council Board member university of Maiduguri.

Sake of im principles, dem make am Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Disciplinary Council, Bayelsa State for 2012.

Den e later become Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House and Principal Executive Secretary for 2013.

E leave local politics to Federal House of Representatives to represent Kolokuma, Opokuma, and Yenagoa Federal Constituency for 2015

Na for 2019 Senator Douye Diri make am im deputy afta dem beat APC candidate David Lyon for Supreme Court.