Former Kogi governor Ibrahim Idris dies at 77

Former Kogi State governor Ibrahim Idris has died at the age of 77.

Idris died on Sunday, September 20, in the United Kingdom, according to reports by Channels TV, Daily Post and Premium Times. Premium Times reported that his family confirmed the death through his nephew, Shehu Ahmed.

Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo declared three days of mourning in the state and directed that the national and state flags be flown at half-mast at government offices and other designated public institutions.

Ododo also said Idris would receive a state burial, with the state government handling the arrangements and burial expenses. He had earlier visited the late former governor’s Abuja residence to sympathise with the family.

Idris, popularly known as Ibro, governed Kogi from 2003 to 2012 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Premium Times reported that he became the state’s longest-serving governor after election disputes and reruns extended the political timeline around his tenure.

He first became governor in 2003 after defeating Abubakar Audu. His 2007 re-election was later annulled after the courts ruled that Audu, then the All Nigeria Peoples Party candidate, had been wrongly excluded from the election. Idris won the 2008 rerun and remained in office until a Supreme Court decision in January 2012 ended the extended tenure argument.

Sources: Channels TV, Daily Post, Premium Times