The sudden death of Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has triggered a fierce political scramble in Bayelsa State, as stakeholders position themselves ahead of Governor Douye Diri’s decision on who succeeds him.
Ewhrudjakpo, 60, died on December 11, 2025, after reportedly collapsing in his office in Yenagoa. His passing came weeks after he refused to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress alongside Governor Diri. The move had stirred tensions within the state political structure, fueling speculation about his future in office before his sudden demise.
Tributes poured in nationwide, including from former President Goodluck Jonathan, who described him as a devoted steward of the state. Yet even as mourning continues, political calculations have begun in earnest.
At the center of succession talks is former governor Seriake Dickson, widely regarded as an influential force in the state’s politics. Though he has publicly maintained that the choice rests solely with Diri, observers believe his preferences could shape the outcome.
Attention has also turned to Heineken Lokpobiri, whose long standing governorship ambition makes the deputy governorship vacancy strategically significant ahead of 2027.
Within Government House, Diri’s Chief of Staff, Pastor Peter Akpe, is rumored to be under consideration, alongside Prince Ebitimi Amgbare of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority. Meanwhile, calls for zoning fairness have intensified, with many insisting Sagbama Local Government Area should retain the office in honor of the late deputy governor.
Speaker Abraham Ingobere and other political figures have also been mentioned in succession permutations.
For now, Governor Diri remains silent. In Bayelsa’s delicate political landscape, that silence speaks volumes as mourning and maneuvering unfold side by side.
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