Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Sunday recalled how he picked Peter Akpe as his new deputy after the death of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo on December 11, 2025.
Diri said he faced intense “spiritual pressure” before his choice of Akpe, a pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God, who was sworn in on February 25, adding that divine direction and the prayers of men of God were very helpful.
The governor spoke on Sunday morning during a special thanksgiving in honour of his deputy, Akpe, at the RCCG regional headquarters along Sani Abacha Expressway in Yenagoa.
Diri said God made Akpe available through divine direction and that after working closely with the late Ewhrudjakpo for almost six years, his replacement had to be a perfect match.
“I faced spiritual pressure picking a new deputy governor after the passing of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo,” he told the congregation.
“While the pressure was on me, I looked out for God’s direction amid the prayers of men of God. At the end of the day, God made Pastor Akpe available through divine direction. Having worked closely with a very hardworking deputy, who passed on, his replacement had to be a perfect match of the former,” he said.
Explaining what guided his decision, the governor stated that it was based more on Akpe’s competence and capacity rather than speculation about a maternal relationship.
