Anxiety has gripped residents of Bayelsa State following reports that the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, collapsed on Thursday afternoon at the Government House in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The sudden medical emergency is said to have occurred during official duties, prompting immediate concern within government circles and among members of the public.
According to sources within the Government House, the incident was treated as urgent, and the Deputy Governor was swiftly taken for medical attention. Unconfirmed reports indicated that he was conveyed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, for further evaluation.
However, efforts to independently verify this proved unsuccessful, as the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Ben Akpedi, did not respond to calls placed to him.
When contacted for clarification, Ewhrudjakpo’s media aide, Doubara Atasi, confirmed the occurrence but declined to provide additional details. Atasi simply responded, “Yes,” when asked to confirm the reports before abruptly ending the call, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the Deputy Governor’s current condition.
The development has intensified speculation owing to recent political tensions in the state. Last October, Ewhrudjakpo was conspicuously absent during a major political announcement made by Governor Douye Diri. At the time, Governor Diri declared his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that also saw a number of Bayelsa lawmakers defect to the ruling party.
During the announcement—made at an expanded State Executive Council meeting at Government House—there was no mention of the Deputy Governor’s stance or presence, raising eyebrows about possible internal disagreements. Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, later stated that the governor’s decision followed “extensive consultations” with stakeholders and was aimed at building a “strong and vibrant Bayelsa.” However, no explanation was provided regarding Ewhrudjakpo’s absence at the time.
With Thursday’s medical emergency, concerns have mounted regarding the Deputy Governor’s wellbeing and what possible implications this could have for governance in the state. As of the time of filing this report, the Bayelsa State Government has not issued an official statement clarifying his condition or the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Residents and political observers continue to await updates, hoping for reassuring news about the Deputy Governor’s health in the coming hours.
