The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has formally approved the appointment of Pastor Peter Pereotubo Akpe as the new Deputy Governor of the state. The confirmation, which took place during a plenary session on Tuesday, paves the way for a transition in the state’s executive leadership following a period of mourning.
Dr Akpe, a seasoned administrator and ordained minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was nominated for the role by Governor Douye Diri. His elevation to the deputy governorship comes after a distinguished tenure as the Governor’s Chief of Staff.
The appointment follows the sudden and untimely passing of the former Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who died in December 2025. Senator Ewhrudjakpo reportedly collapsed while on official duty at the Government House in Yenagoa and was later pronounced dead at the Federal Medical Centre.
Following weeks of state mourning, the late Deputy Governor was laid to rest on 30 January 2026, in his hometown of Ofoni, located within the Sagbama Local Government Area. His death left a significant void in the Diri administration, which the appointment of Dr Akpe is intended to fill.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, read the Governor’s letter of nomination to the assembly. In a gesture of parliamentary respect, the House accorded Dr Akpe the honour of “taking a bow” without extensive screening a tradition reserved for former members of the legislature.
Dr Akpe is himself a veteran of the Assembly, having served two terms as a lawmaker and holding the position of Majority Leader between 2011 and 2019.
Pastor Akpe brings a formidable blend of academic and administrative experience to the office. He hails from the Ebedebiri community in the Sagbama Local Government Area and holds a PhD in Administration and Planning from the University of Port Harcourt.
His career trajectory within the state government includes:
- Chief of Staff to Governor Douye Diri.
- Deputy Chief of Staff and Acting Chief of Staff.
- Majority Leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
- Commissioner under the administration of former Governor Seriake Dickson.
The confirmation of Dr Akpe is widely seen as a strategic move to ensure stability and continuity within the state’s leadership. As a close ally of Governor Diri and a figure with deep institutional memory of both the legislative and executive arms, his appointment is expected to bolster the administration’s policy implementation as it moves forward.
With the Assembly’s seal of approval secured, the state government is expected to announce the date for Dr Akpe’s formal swearing-in ceremony in the coming days.
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