The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Kogi State governorship election, Alhaji Abubakar Audu has died. He was aged 68 years.
The new his sudden death filtered out on Sunday afternoon as he emerged the clear leader in the result of the election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Though the cause of his death is yet to be disclosed, it is believed that that it was a result of cardiac arrest.
It is not certain if he died before INEC declared the election inconclusive or after. Some sources said he passed out after vomiting blood and could not be revived. Others however said he died in his sleep.
Prince Abubakar Audu was first elected the governor of Kogi State in 1991 under the transition to civil rule programme of the General Ibrahim Babangida administration. He served till November 17, 1993 following the coup by General Sani Abacha.
In 1999 he contested under the new constitution and won again. He however lost his second term bid in 2003 to his eventual successor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.
Since then, he contested for the governorship seat in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
The Kogi State government has already confirmed his death, declaring a seven day mourning in his memory.
He is to be buried on Monday morning according to Muslim rites.
The Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha declared the election inconclusive because as according to him, the number of votes cancelled exceeded the number of votes with which Audu led Capt. Idris Wada, the incumbent governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate.
From the result declared by INEC, Audu polled 240,867 votes, 41,353 votes more than the 199,514 votes Wada got. The cancelled votes were however 49,953.
