Ibrahim Idris, Former Kogi Governor, Dies at 77

Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris has died in the United Kingdom at the age of 77. His death was confirmed on Sunday by his nephew, Shehu Ahmed, while further details surrounding the circumstances of his death were still being awaited.

Idris, popularly known as Ibro, governed Kogi State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party between 2003 and 2012, serving across two periods after a court-ordered rerun interrupted his second electoral victory.

He was first elected governor in 2003, defeating the then incumbent, Prince Abubakar Audu, and was sworn in on May 29 of that year.

Idris won re-election in 2007, but the result was later nullified after the courts ruled that the exclusion of Audu, the ANPP candidate, had affected the election.

A rerun was held in March 2008, which Idris won, returning him to the Government House in Lokoja. He eventually completed his tenure in January 2012 and was succeeded by Captain Idris Wada, who had won the December 2011 governorship election.

From business to Government House

Before entering politics, Idris built a business career through Ibro Trading Company, with interests that included construction, furniture manufacturing and hospitality. He also established Ibro Hotel and other businesses, giving him a profile outside politics before his emergence as governor.

His nearly nine years in office made him one of Kogi’s longest-serving civilian governors. His political career was also closely linked to the PDP’s dominance of the state during the period.

Kogi officials visit family

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News of his death prompted visits to his Abuja residence by current Kogi Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, former Governor Yahaya Bello, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Abdullahi Bello and other government officials, who went to condole with the family.

Governor Ododo also described Idris as a man who made contributions to politics and business and expressed condolences to his family.

Idris’ death comes after a long public career that moved from business into state politics and placed him at the centre of Kogi’s political history for almost a decade.

For Kogi, his passing closes the chapter on one of the state’s most enduring political figures of the early Fourth Republic.

ValidViewNetwork reports that former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris died in the United Kingdom on Sunday at 77, with his family confirming the death as political and government figures began paying condolences at his Abuja residence.