ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, died on Thursday after collapsing in his office in Yenagoa.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1:30 p.m. as he was descending a staircase shortly after a meeting.
He was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.
Hospital sources said he arrived unconscious and was taken to the Emergency Unit before being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where all efforts to revive him failed.
His media aide, Doubara Atasi, confirmed the development but declined to provide further information.
Following news of his collapse, sympathisers thronged the hospital, prompting security officials to tighten access to the facility.
Born on September 5, 1965, Ewhrudjakpo had served as Bayelsa State deputy governor since 2020.
He had previously represented Bayelsa West in the Senate and served as Commissioner for Works.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Buhari Dies In London Clinic
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, confirmed his death, describing it as inexplicable.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, a longtime associate of former Governor Seriake Dickson, remained one of the few top officials who refused to defect with Governor Douye Diri to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He insisted on staying in the PDP, despite political pressure.
He reportedly fell out with Governor Diri after rejecting the push to resign from the PDP on October 15.
Although Diri said no official would be compelled to defect, plots to impeach Ewhrudjakpo reportedly emerged in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
In response, the late deputy governor approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, which on October 27 barred the Assembly from continuing the impeachment process.
Ewhrudjakpo previously served in the Seriake Dickson administration as Commissioner for Works from 2012 to 2019 before his election to the Senate.
He maintained cordial political ties with Diri during their first term and early in their second term before their recent fallout.