The Bayelsa State Government was rocked on Thursday when Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, 60, slumped in his office at the Government House in Yenagoa and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yenagoa.

The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. while Ewhrudjakpo was attending to official duties. Aides and security personnel rushed him to the hospital, where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit before doctors confirmed his death . Early reports point to a possible cardiac emergency, a theory reinforced by colleagues who described the senator as a “workaholic” who rarely rested .

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed “deep shock” and called his passing an “inexplicable loss,” praising his honesty, principle and dedication to Bayelsa’s development . Governor Douye Diri, along with other state officials, visited the hospital to pay respects, and flags across the state are expected to be lowered in his honour. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.

The sudden loss has sent shockwaves through the Niger Delta political scene, with tributes pouring in from fellow governors, traditional rulers and party leaders, all highlighting Ewhrudjakpo’s steadfast service and the void his absence will create.