APC governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu declared dead

The governorship election in the central Nigerian state of Kogi has ended with double twists, one of which was tragic.

The APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, who was waiting to be declared the winner of the election, has instead been declared dead.

He was said to have had a massive stroke around 3.10 pm, just about the time that INEC returning officer Professor Emmanunel Kucha declared the result of the poll inconclusive.

Family sources confirm that Audu has had a history of heart-related problems.

Audu, from the results declared by the INEC, from the 21 local councils in the state, had won 16 and was clearly ahead of the PDP opponent and incumbent, Idris Wada.

But INEC declared the election inconclusive, despite projections by the media that he had won.

According to results declared by the Returning Officer, Emmanuel Kucha (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi), Audu scored 240,867 while Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party garnered 199,514 votes.

Mr. Kucha said the margin of votes between Messrs Audu and Wada is 41,353.

And introducing the first twist, he declared that the election was inconclusive because the total number of registered voters in 91 polling units, in 18 local government areas, where election was cancelled is 49,953.

He said by INEC guideline, no return could be made for the election until supplementary election is held in areas where election was cancelled.

Now came the second twist, a tragic one: instead of being declared winner of the election, Audu was declared dead.

His death was confirmed by a senior official of the APC. In response to enquiry, he said: “Yes, he is Dead”.

It was learnt that he had a massive stroke this afternoon, from which he never recovered. He had the stroke after the INEC returning officer had declared the result of the election inconclusive.

Prince Abubakar Audu, was the first Executive Governor of Kogi State and was born on 27 October 1947, to the family of his Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Atta of Igala Land and the paramount ruler of Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

He started his education at the then N.A. Junior Primary School, Alloma, and later N.A Senior School Ankpa, from where he proceeded to Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha. He later transferred to the Jos Commercial College where he obtained both the GCE O and A level

Credit: PM News/Vanguard