Former Kogi Governor Ibrahim Idris Passes Away at 77

Ibrahim Idris, the former governor of Kogi State, has passed away. He was 77 years old.

He died on Sunday in the United Kingdom, as confirmed by his family.

His nephew, Shehu Ahmed, told AIT Live about the death on Sunday afternoon. This came after earlier unconfirmed news spread on social media.

Details about his passing are not available yet.

Ibrahim Idris, also known as "Ibro," is the longest-serving governor in Kogi State’s history. He led the North-central state for almost nine years.

He became governor on 29 May 2003 by defeating the then-incumbent, Abubakar Audu, in that year’s governorship election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was re-elected in 2007, but that election got annulled after the courts found that the Independent National Electoral Commission wrongly left out Mr Audu, the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, from the election.

The Court of Appeal ordered a new election.

At that time, Clarence Olafemi, who was the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, acted as governor until the rerun took place.

Mr Idris won the rerun on 29 March 2008 and returned to his position. This election dispute made Kogi one of Nigeria’s states known for having off-cycle governorship elections.

Another legal issue came up about when his time in office should end.

Mr Idris, along with other governors whose elections were annulled in 2007, said their four-year terms started again when they won rerun elections and took new oaths of office.

The Supreme Court turned down that argument in January 2012. This decision ended his extended time in office.

The ruling set a key precedent on the legal terms for governors after annulled elections and reruns.

Idris Wada, who won the December 2011 Kogi governorship election under the PDP, took over after Mr Idris. Mr Wada is Mr Idris’s brother-in-law.

While he was governor, Mr Idris’s government carried out several infrastructure projects across Kogi State.

His administration is known for the Greater Lokoja Water Scheme, Lokoja International Market, Confluence Stadium, and the state specialist hospital.

Reports also say his government invested in education and supported the accreditation of programs at Kogi State University in Anyigba.

Before he got into politics, Mr Idris built businesses in furniture, hospitality, construction, and trade.

He started a furniture business in Sokoto in the 1970s and later grew into hospitality and other areas.

After leaving office, Mr Idris remained active in the PDP and Kogi politics.

His death comes more than two years after his son, Mohammed Idris, passed away. Mohammed was a former member of the House of Representatives, representing Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2015. He died in Abuja in April 2024 at the age of 55.

As of now, the family has not shared burial plans or the cause of death.