Applause in some quarters. Raised eyebrows in others. That was the mood in Bayelsa as Governor Douye Diri swore in Dr Peter Akpe as Deputy Governor, a decision coming after the death of Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and amid murmurs about blood ties and political calculations, writes LINUS EFFIONG
Just over two months after the death of Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, which left a void in the state’s power structure, Governor Diri made his move.
On Tuesday, he unveiled Dr Peter Akpe — his former Chief of Staff and long-time ally — as the man to step into the delicate office of deputy governor.
Cleared the same day by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Akpe becomes the sixth Deputy Governor of the state and will serve out the remaining two years of the administration.
By Wednesday, inside the Executive Council Chamber in Yenagoa, the oath had been taken, sealing a transition that had been closely watched across the creeks and political corridors of Bayelsa.
To many outside the state, Akpe may appear an unfamiliar figure. But within Bayelsa’s political landscape, his name carries weight — and a story shaped by ambition, strategy and steady ascent.
From his early days as a popular photographer capturing moments behind the lens, Akpe steadily repositioned himself at the centre of power. He rose to become a two-term member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, later serving as commissioner, deputy chief of staff, acting chief of staff and eventually chief of staff to the governor.
Now, he occupies the state’s number two seat — a climb so swift that some describe it as luck, while others see calculated preparation meeting opportunity.
If fortune has favoured him, it has not found him idle. Born in Ebedebiri community in Sagbama Local Government Area, Akpe combines politics with a clerical calling as a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Academically grounded, he earned a Bachelor of Education from Rivers State College of Education, a Master’s in Educational Management from Rivers State University, and went on to obtain two doctorates — one in Educational Management and Planning from Rivers State University and another in Administration and Planning from the University of Port Harcourt.
For supporters, the résumé signals readiness. For critics, it heightens expectations. Either way, with the oath now sworn, Dr Akpe’s most defining political chapter has begun.
The new number two man in Bayelsa once stood before lecture halls at the Niger Delta University, teaching and shaping young minds. But politics soon beckoned — and he answered.
Dr. Peter Akpe went on to serve two terms in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, rising to Majority Leader, before moving through the ranks of governance as commissioner in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly Service Commission, Head of Administration in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Deputy Chief of Staff, acting Chief of Staff and eventually Chief of Staff to Governor Douye Diri.
Each role placed him closer to the levers of power. Each appointment deepened his footprint in the state’s political architecture.
Man for the job?
For many Bayelsans, his academic grounding and long administrative apprenticeship are not mere credentials on paper but evidence of preparation. They argue that his analytical depth, organisational discipline and insider understanding of Government House operations could prove decisive in the demanding task ahead.
Beyond politics, Akpe is described as a devoted family man and a provincial pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God — a figure who publicly aligns himself with discipline, moral values and education.
His years inside Government House, particularly as Chief of Staff, brought him into intimate proximity with the governor. In that role, he functioned as adviser, strategist and gatekeeper, widely regarded as part of the engine room of the Diri administration alongside the late deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Yet, while his elevation did not shock seasoned political observers, it has not escaped scrutiny. Some critics quietly describe him as intensely ambitious — a man whose steady climb always seemed headed for this moment.
Controversy also trailed the months preceding his emergence. His name surfaced during the tense political episode surrounding moves to impeach Ewhrudjakpo after the latter reportedly refused to follow Governor Diri in defecting to the All Progressives Congress. The late deputy governor subsequently sued the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over the impeachment plot, before withdrawing the case following the governor’s intervention and an out-of-court settlement.
Now sworn in, the debates, suspicions and expectations converge on one question: will experience and proximity to power translate into performance in office? Only time will provide the answer.
Akpe: Beneficiary of alleged nepotism?
No appointment in Bayelsa politics comes without scrutiny, and the elevation of Dr Akpe is no exception.
Supporters of Governor Douye Diri insist the move was strategic, ensuring that the deputy governorship remains in Sagbama — the same local government area as Akpe’s predecessor, the late Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo — preserving political balance within the state.
Yet critics point to a more personal connection: Akpe and Diri are cousins, linked through their maternal roots in Ayamasa community in Ekeremor Local Government Area. Some allege this raises questions of nepotism, while others argue that shared heritage could strengthen trust and cohesion in government.
The debate was underscored during Akpe’s swearing-in at the Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Yenagoa, where Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, expressed confidence in his capacity.
“I am very convinced that the new deputy governor has all it takes to shoulder the responsibilities of the exalted office. I urge you to reaffirm your commitment to the Constitution of our great nation and to the people of Bayelsa State,” she said.
Governor Diri echoed this confidence, describing Akpe as a dependable partner in the “Bayelsa project” and appealing to citizens to support him as he settles into the role.
But public reaction has been mixed. While some Bayelsans welcome the appointment, others caution that the deputy governor must deliver on governance, inclusivity, and accessibility.
Johnny Tovie, state chairman of the African Democratic Congress, emphasised the importance of serving the people’s interests without favouritism.
“You don’t necessarily have to be happy with the choice of who the governor wants as his deputy, but the choice should deliver the benefits of democracy to the people. He has been sworn in, and a lot is expected of him. We want the state to be better, and we will continue to pray for him.”
David West, state chairman of the Civil Liberty Organisation, acknowledged the cousin connection but stressed performance over sentiment.
“The office is competitive. The last occupant set a high track record. The new deputy governor should be available and accessible to the people, not create more enemies for the governor, and address pending issues promptly. Key expectations include delivering democracy’s benefits, ensuring inclusivity, and avoiding favouritism,” West said.
Within the Peoples Democratic Party, party leader Chris Abarowe advised a simple guiding principle: humility.
“The late deputy governor personified humility, and that should be the watchword for the new deputy governor. Pastor Peter Akpe is an astute administrator. He has been tested — as deputy chief of staff, chief of staff, and assembly member — and today he steps into the deputy governor role. He knows the workings of government and should be a reliable and active deputy.”
In politics, trust is currency — and in Bayelsa, Governor Diri has chosen to invest it in one of his closest allies. With the swearing-in of Dr Akpe as Deputy Governor, the governor has reshaped the state’s power equation, triggering conversations about loyalty, ambition and family ties.
And as Bayelsans look ahead with cautious optimism, the lingering question remains: will experience, loyalty, and political strategy translate into effective leadership, or will the whispers of nepotism cast a long shadow? Only time will tell if Governor Diri’s choice was one of wisdom or risk.
