The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed that Lawrence Oboraw-Harievwo Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, died yesterday.
People were worried about the deputy governor’s health earlier in the day when news broke that he had passed out.
The Tanimu Turaki-led PDP confirmed his death in a statement Wednesday night. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, called the news startling.
Channels TV says that the Bayelsa State government has not yet made an official declaration about the death of the deputy governor.
The party said in a statement that Ewhrudjakpo was a loyal and trusted member of the party. They also said that his death has put the whole PDP membership, especially the faithful in Bayelsa State, in deep mourning.
The PDP hoped that God would give his soul eternal peace and sent their deepest condolences to the people and government of Bayelsa State for this terrible and permanent loss.
The PDP statement says, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is deeply shocked by the news that His Excellency Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State and a loyal party member, collapsed and died earlier today.”
The National Working Committee, chaired by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and the rest of our great party, especially our loyal members in Bayelsa State, are all deeply saddened by this terrible news.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo was an honest and consistent politician who believed in and lived by the rules of politics while he was alive. He was a man of conviction, not convenience; a leader whose life was based on faith, honesty, and strength of character. He held on to these values until the end of his life.
“We are really sad that this champion of political integrity has passed away, and we pray that God gives his soul peace.
“We send our deepest condolences to the government and people of Bayelsa State on this terrible and permanent loss.”
Ewhrudjakpo was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State from 2020 till his death.
He was first chosen to be Douye Diri’s running mate in the Bayelsa State governorship election in November 2019. When they were reelected in 2023, he kept the job.
The deputy governor was not there when Governor Diri switched to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in October, just before he died.
After he left the party, Governor Diri said that he would not force Ewhrudjakpo to join the ruling party. He also said that he would keep working with his deputy to get good results.
At the same time, Ewhrudjakpo went to the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from trying to impeach him for staying in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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