By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has died in the United Kingdom at the age of 77, marking the end of the political career of one of the state’s longest-serving civilian governors.
Idris reportedly died on Sunday in the UK. His death was confirmed by Michael Idoko, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, according to reports.
Details surrounding the circumstances of his death were still unclear as of press time.
Family sources indicated that Idris had suffered a prolonged illness, while Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, was reported to have condoled with the former governor’s family.
Popularly known as Ibro, Idris governed Kogi State on the platform of the PDP from 2003 to 2012, although his tenure was interrupted by a court ruling that nullified his 2007 election.
He first became governor on May 29, 2003, after defeating the then incumbent, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the governorship election.
Idris was declared winner of the 2007 governorship election, but his victory was subsequently challenged following the exclusion of Audu, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, from the election.
The legal battle eventually led to the nullification of the election. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision in February 2008 and ordered a fresh election. Idris subsequently contested the re-run conducted in March 2008 and won, allowing him to return to office.
He completed his tenure in January 2012 and was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Captain Idris Wada.
Idris was the state’s second democratically elected governor and one of its longest-serving governors, having spent nearly nine years in office across the two periods.
Before entering politics, Idris established himself as a businessman through Ibro Trading Company, with interests spanning construction, furniture manufacturing and hospitality.
He was born in 1949 in Idah, present-day Kogi State. He received part of his early education in Onitsha, Anambra State, before moving to Kano, where he completed his primary education.
He later attended King’s Commercial College in Buguma, Rivers State, and obtained a university degree from the University of Abuja.
His business interests included the establishment of a furniture factory in Sokoto and Ibro Hotel, which historical accounts identify as the first three-star hotel in the old Sokoto State.
Idris subsequently became an influential figure in Kogi politics and the PDP, maintaining relationships with political actors in the state after leaving office.
