Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris Passes Away at 77

Veteran Nigerian politician and businessman Alhaji Ibrahim Idris who served as the Governor of Kogi State from 2003 to 2012, has died. Idris reportedly passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2026, while receiving medical care in the United Kingdom.

A towering figure in north-central Nigerian politics, Idris governed the confluence state for nearly nine years under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Commonly referred to as "Ibro," his political journey saw him win successive electoral mandates in 2003 and a court-ordered rerun in 2008, making him one of the longest-serving chief executives in the state's history. Before entering frontline public service, he built a flourishing business empire spanning hospitality, furniture manufacturing, and construction.

In response to his passing, incumbent Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo declared a three-day period of state mourning starting Sunday. Governor Ododo directed that the Nigerian national flag and the Kogi State flag be flown at half-mast across all government offices and public institutions. Furthermore, the state government announced that it would assume full financial and logistical responsibility for a formal state burial to honor his extensive contributions to the state's political and infrastructural development.

Top political stakeholders, including Governor Ododo and former Governor Yahaya Bello, promptly visited the late statesman's Abuja residence to commiserate with the bereaved family. Tributes have continued to pour in from political allies and cross-party figures highlighting his legacy in infrastructure expansion, education, and grassroots political mentorship.