Bayelsa Assembly Confirms Deputy Governor Nominee *Advise to work assiduously to support Gov Diri achieve electioneering promises

 By Majesty Inegbagha 

Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Tuesday at its plenary  confirmed  a Deputy Governor nominee, Hon (Pastor) Peter Pereotubo Akpe PhD as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state.

Hon Peter Akpe PhD

 His confirmation was sequelled to a letter   forwarded to the House addressed to the Rt. Hon  Speaker, dated 23rd February, 2026 signed by Governor Douye Diri urging the House to confirm Hon Akpe as Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State.

Governor Diri recalled that the former deputy Governor of the state, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo died on 11th December, 2025 and was buried on January 30, 2026 with full state burial rites.

He maintained that since then the office of the late deputy governor remain vacant.

He explained that his nomination of Hon Peter Akpe to fill the vacant position was  pursuant to the provision of section 191 sub- section 3 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

The House also  confirmed a Commissioner Nominee, Mrs Joanah Gigi as Commissioner for Woman, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development. 

Mrs Joanah Gigi

Her nomination also, the governor said was due to the death of the former Commissioner, Mrs Elizabeth Biddei who died in 2024.

Advising the Deputy Governor Nominee, Hon Peter Akpe during the plenary, the Speaker, Rt. Hon (High Chief) Abraham Ingobere urged him to work assiduously to Support Governor Douye Diri achieve his Electioneering Promises.

Rt Hon ( High Chief) Abraham Ingobere 

The Speaker also advised Hon Akpe to be a team player and should eschew acts of undermining those that would work with him.

High Chief Ingobere acknowledged the wealth of experience the Deputy Governor has gained both from the legislative and executive arms of the government, and expressed confident that he will use his position to strengthening the robust existing relationship between the Legislature and the Executive to move the State forward.

He said " You are not going to undermine the position of the Legislature in the system. We have a very smooth system in Bayelsa state. The honour we give to the governor is the same honour we give to his subordinates. And the Governor has a very robust relationship with the Assembly."

Also in his advice, the Deputy Speaker, Hon (High Chief) Michael P. Ogbere on behalf of his constituents and the people of Bayelsa West congratulated Hon Akpe on his nomination as Bayelsa state Deputy Governor.

 He expressed  confident that the Deputy Governor nominee will live up to expectations in  his relationship with the Governor, the people and communities of the state based on his sterling track records.

He enjoined him to be totally loyal and committed to the governor as well as exhibition of fairness while handling community's issues as  a pastor.

In his own advice, the Majority Leader of the House, Rt. Hon Monday -Bubou Edwin Obolo PhD, advised the Deputy Governor nominee to continue to do those things that led to his appointment, adding that he should do those things that the Governor like, stressing that what Governor doesn't like he should also dislike it; and further urged him to work closely with the Governor to move the state forward.

During the screening, the Leader of the House, Rt.Hon Monday-Bubou Edwin Obolo moved a motion in Order 5 of the rules and privileges enjoy by Honourable members to allow the Deputy Governor Nominee Hon Peter  Akpe bow and go.

 Moving the motion, he said the Nominee was a two term member of the State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2019 who served as Majority Leader of the House, adding to his exceptional performance and track record.

His motion was seconded by the Member representing Ogbia Constituency II, Hon Godknows Obein, and was unanimously supported by the members thus allowed the Deputy Governor Nominee to bow at the sacred floor of the House and leave without following the usual screening process.

Earlier in its plenary on Tuesday, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has read a bill seeking to repeal the Bayelsa State Development and Investment Corporation, Bill ( BYSHA/7 B.31), 2026 by Rt Hon Monday -Bubou Edwin Obolo (PhD), member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency II, and Majority Leader of the House for first reading.