Lobbying Intensifies as Diri Faces Tough Choice Over Successor to Late Ewhrudjakpo

The political atmosphere in Bayelsa State has reached a fever pitch as Governor Douye Diri faces mounting pressure to fill the vacant seat of the Deputy Governor. Nearly two weeks after the final burial of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Governor’s desk is reportedly overflowing with recommendations from interest groups, traditional rulers, and political heavyweights.

The search for a successor is fraught with “State of Harmony” concerns. Stakeholders from Sagbama Local Government Area are demanding that the position remains within their domain as a matter of fairness to the late Ewhrudjakpo’s constituency. “To move the slot elsewhere would be to disregard the principles of rotational justice that sustain our unity,” argued one grassroots group, POLIVOX, which is currently rooting for Dr. Famous Eseduwo.

However, the Governor’s recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has added a layer of complexity to the choice. While the late deputy remained a staunch PDP member until his passing, Diri must now decide whether to pick an APC loyalist like State Chairman Dr. Dennis Otiotio to solidify his new party base, or a “neutral” administrative hand like his Chief of Staff, Dr. Peter Akpe, to maintain stability.

Former Governor Seriake Dickson, who mentored the late deputy, has cautioned against the “unseemly” rush to replace a man whose seat is barely cold. Despite his disapproval of the aggressive lobbying, Dickson acknowledged that the constitutional responsibility now rests squarely on Diri’s shoulders.

As the state enters mid-February, the “vacuum” is becoming palpable. With the Governor frequently called to Abuja for high-level meetings, the lack of a deputy has slowed the wheels of the state’s bureaucracy. For Bayelsans, the wait for a new “No. 2” is more than just a political game; it is a quest for a leader who can bridge the gap between the Governor’s new APC alignment and the PDP-heavy grassroots he left behind.