Bayelsa State has declared a three-day mourning period following the sudden death of Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who passed away on Thursday after collapsing in his office. He was 60.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiowou Koku-Obiyai, Ewhrudjakpo collapsed around noon while heading to a meeting at Government House, Yenagoa. He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was pronounced dead. The commissioner expressed “deep regret and profound shock,” noting that the deputy governor had carried out his official duties earlier in the day.
Governor Douye Diri subsequently declared a three-day mourning period beginning Friday, December 12, 2025, with flags to be flown at half-mast across the state. He extended condolences to the deceased’s wife, Barr. (Mrs.) Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, their children, the Ewhrudjakpo family of Ofoni Federated Community in Sagbama Local Government Area, former Governor Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, and the people of Bayelsa.
“His demise is not just painful; it is a great loss to the government, the people of Bayelsa State, and the nation,” Diri said.
Born on September 5, 1965, Ewhrudjakpo began his education in Sagbama and later earned multiple academic qualifications, including a PhD in Human Rights and Labour Law. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2009 after completing his studies at the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. A dedicated member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was also a management consultant, legal practitioner and community health practitioner.
He served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during the Dickson administration, where he played a significant role in the development of the Bayelsa International Airport. In 2019, he was elected senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, a position he held until 2020 when he resigned to become deputy governor alongside Diri.
The PDP, in a statement confirming his death, described Ewhrudjakpo as a committed party loyalist and a dedicated public servant whose contributions would be “deeply remembered.”
Under Section 191 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the governor is expected to nominate a new deputy governor, subject to approval by the State House of Assembly.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced, as consultations between the government and the Ewhrudjakpo family continue.
Ewhrudjakpo’s passing represents a major loss for Bayelsa State, where he was widely regarded for his contributions to infrastructure development, governance and environmental advocacy in the Niger Delta.