Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has reportedly died in the United Kingdom at the age of 77.
Reliable sources broke the shocking news of Idris’s death on Sunday; further details of his reported death were still being awaited as of press time.
Idris served as governor of Kogi State from 2003 to 2008 and again from 2008 to 2012 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was succeeded by his brother-in-law, Captain Idris Wada, in January 2012.
Born in 1949 in Idah, Kogi State, Idris began his 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 bachelor’s degree from the University of Abuja.
Before venturing into politics, Idris was a businessman. He established Ibro Trading Company, with interests including construction, furniture manufacturing and hospitality.
He later established a furniture factory in Sokoto and the Ibro Hotel, described in available biographical records as the first three-star hotel in the old Sokoto State.
Idris emerged as the PDP governorship candidate for Kogi State ahead of the 2003 election and defeated the incumbent governor, Prince Abubakar Audu.
He was sworn in as governor on May 29, 2003.
Idris was re-elected in 2007, but the election was later nullified following a legal challenge over the exclusion of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Abubakar Audu, from the poll.
The Court of Appeal upheld the decision in February 2008 and ordered a fresh election.
Idris subsequently contested the March 2008 re-run and was returned as governor. His victory was challenged by Audu, who alleged electoral irregularities.
Idris eventually completed his tenure in January 2012 and was succeeded by Wada.
The former governor also attracted national attention in 2006 when three of his daughters survived the ADC Airlines Flight 53 crash, which claimed numerous lives.
Following the incident, Idris described the survival of his daughters as a “superlative show of mercy” from God and called for thanksgiving.
In April 2024, Idris suffered the loss of his son, Mohammed Ibrahim Idris, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala Federal Constituency of Kogi State. Mohammed died in Abuja shortly after observing Eid-el-Fitr prayers.