Bayelsa Assembly confirms Peter Akpe as new Deputy Governor.

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

Akpe’s confirmation follows the vacancy created by the death of former Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who died in December 2025.

Before his appointment, Akpe served as Chief of Staff at Government House, Yenagoa.

He is a former two-term member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and previously rose through the civil service to the rank of Director before taking on senior political roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff.

CBI News reports that Akpe holds a PhD and is also known as a Christian minister, often addressed with the titles Hon. (Dr) or Pastor.

Ewhrudjakpo’s death was announced with “deep regret and profound shock” by the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai.

According to the statement at the time, the deputy governor was active and carrying out official duties before he collapsed while heading to a scheduled meeting.

He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, where he was confirmed dead.

Governor Douye Diri subsequently declared three days of mourning, ordered flags to fly at half-mast, and described the loss as “a great loss to the Government and people of Bayelsa State and the nation.”

He also directed that an autopsy be conducted to determine the cause of death.

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.