Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has died at the age of 77.

Idris reportedly died on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in the United Kingdom.

His death has triggered condolence visits from political leaders and government officials in Kogi State, with the state’s incumbent governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, and former governor, Yahaya Bello, among those who visited the deceased’s family in Abuja.

The visit was disclosed by Onogwu Muhammed, Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Public Relations and Chief Press Secretary to former Governor Yahaya Bello, in a post shared on Facebook on Sunday.

According to Muhammed, Ododo, Bello, Kogi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abdullahi Bello, and other senior government officials visited the late former governor’s Abuja residence to commiserate with his family.

He said, “Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo; former Governor Yahaya Bello, CON; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon.

Abdullahi Bello; and other top government officials have arrived at the Abuja residence of the late former Governor Ibrahim Idris, who passed away this afternoon.”

Photographs accompanying the post showed Governor Ododo and former Governor Bello at the deceased’s residence.

Idris was a prominent figure in Kogi State politics and served as the state’s governor from 2003 to 2012.

He assumed office in May 2003 and was re-elected in the 2007 governorship election, allowing him to serve a second term.

His administration ended in January 2012, when he was succeeded by Idris Wada.

During his time in office, Idris was one of the key political figures in Kogi State and remained active in the affairs of the state after leaving office.

The former governor’s death comes as the state’s political leadership and other associates begin paying tribute to him and commiserating with his family.

As of Sunday evening, details surrounding the cause of his death had not been made public.

Further information on funeral arrangements and other burial rites is expected to emerge from the family and relevant authorities.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the winners of the five legislative by-elections conducted across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the polls in one federal constituency and four State House of Assembly constituencies.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) won four seats, while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) secured one. �

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The APC candidates who emerged victorious were Kallamu Usman MaiJama’a in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State; Husseini Datti in the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency of Kano State; Okolosi Ator in the Udu State Constituency of Delta State; and Yakubu Ali in the Disina State Constituency of Bauchi State.

Adamu Yakubu of the APM won the Sakwa State Constituency seat in Bauchi State.

In Gombe, MaiJama’a polled 41,121 votes to win the federal constituency seat. Datti secured 22,890 votes in Dawakin Kudu, while Ator won Udu with 8,724 votes.

In Disina, Bauchi State, Ali polled 5,846 votes, while APM candidate Adamu Yakubu won Sakwa with 8,515 votes. �

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In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the victories recorded by APC candidates demonstrated the confidence Nigerians at the grassroots had placed in the party and its administration.

The President said he was encouraged by the support shown for the APC and the reforms being implemented by his administration.

He urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and said the benefits of the government’s reforms would become increasingly evident as the administration moved into the next phase of its programme.

Tinubu also charged the newly elected lawmakers to justify the confidence reposed in them by their constituents through diligent and effective representation.

He urged candidates who lost the elections to accept the results in good faith and continue to contribute to the democratic process.

The President commended voters and security agencies for maintaining peace and order during the exercise.

He also praised INEC for conducting the polls, urging the commission to build on the experience gained from the by-elections and address identified shortcomings ahead of future elections, particularly the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had described the by-elections as important operational tests that would provide lessons for preparations for the 2027 elections. �

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The five constituencies were among those scheduled by INEC for the September 19 exercise to fill legislative vacancies created by different circumstances. �

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A 38-year-old Guidance and Counselling graduate of Benue State University, Mike Oje, has allegedly been beaten to death by his neighbour, Temitope Adebiri, following an argument over the way Oje reportedly played with Adebiri’s young son in Mowe-Ofada, Ogun State.

Oje’s cousin, Peter Adum, who narrated the circumstances surrounding the incident, said the deceased was attacked on August 26 after returning from work.

According to Adum, Oje had been working at Bluestone Estate, where he was responsible for looking after and advertising a property belonging to iLOT.

He said Oje initially secured a one-month contract to keep the property clean while the company awaited the winner of a house it had offered as a World Cup prediction prize.

However, after the winner reportedly rejected the property because its location did not correspond with the address advertised online, the company decided to put the house up for sale.

Oje was subsequently retained to take care of the property and advertise it online until a buyer was found.

Adum said Oje had worked at the estate for about two months before his death and was well known among residents.

“He was a jovial person who used to play with everybody and did not make trouble with anyone,” he said.

How the incident happened
Recounting the events of August 26, Adum said Oje had just returned from work when Adebiri’s three- or four-year-old son ran towards him.
He said the child regularly played with Oje and, on that occasion, hugged him.

“Mike hugged the boy and threw him playfully in the air and caught him, before going into his room to sleep,” Adum said.

According to him, while Oje was sleeping, Adebiri came to his room and knocked on the door.

When Oje came out, Adum said, the neighbour accused him of playing roughly with his child.
He said Oje explained that he had only hugged the boy and lifted him into the air.

Adum alleged that Adebiri then slapped Oje before picking up a bamboo stick and striking him about three times.

He said Oje was hit around the left side of his chest, fell and died at the scene.

Adum said he was unaware of any previous disagreement between the two men.

“I was not aware of any disagreement between them. Nobody told me about one, and Mike never mentioned anything to me. As far as I knew, they played and joked together whenever they met,” he said.

Family arrives at scene
Adum said he was informed by someone working around the developing estate that his cousin had been killed.

He said he initially found it difficult to believe the report until he was taken to the location.

“We went there in cars and on motorcycles. When we got there, we saw Mike lying dead on the ground,” he said.

According to him, the incident occurred at about 2pm, but the family did not arrive until around 4pm because of the distance and difficult access to the estate.

Adum alleged that Adebiri had fled the area after the incident.

He said Oje’s body was subsequently moved by people at the estate to Adebiri’s house and left on the corridor, where the family found it.

He added that some relatives became angry and wanted to attack or burn the suspect’s house, but the family restrained the situation.

According to him, only Adebiri’s wife was at home when they arrived, and she later narrated what she knew about the incident.

Adum said the woman also told them she was unaware of any disagreement between her husband and Oje, adding that the two men had previously played and joked together.

Police arrest suspect
The family subsequently took Oje’s body to the Ogun State Teaching Hospital in Sagamu for the necessary procedures before returning to the Owode-Egba Police Station.

Adum said the police later arrested Adebiri.
He said officers at Owode Police Division told the family that the suspect had fled to his lawyer’s residence after the incident and was subsequently brought to the police station by the lawyer.

According to Adum, Adebiri had also taken his two children, including the child Oje had been playing with, when he fled.

He said the suspect was later moved to the Eleweran Police Station.

Adum further claimed that Adebiri had admitted hitting Oje.

The family has obtained the autopsy form and is awaiting the autopsy, which it hopes will help establish the circumstances surrounding Oje’s death.

Family demands justice
Adum said the family was devastated by Oje’s death and was demanding that the matter be thoroughly investigated.

He said the family had taken responsibility for the expenses incurred since the incident, including the costs associated with the deceased’s body and medical treatment for a relative who was severely affected by the news.

He said one of his brothers was taken to Babcock University Teaching Hospital after being informed of Oje’s death, with more than N1.5m reportedly spent on his treatment as his blood pressure rose following the shock.

Oje’s mother, according to Adum, has also been deeply affected by the death and has repeatedly asked to see her son.

However, the family has kept the body at the mortuary pending the completion of the necessary procedures, including the autopsy.

Graduate with plans for the future
Adum described Oje as a hardworking young man who had overcome several challenges in his education.

He said Oje attended Benue State College of Education before proceeding to Benue State University, where he studied Guidance and Counselling.

According to him, Oje had only recently graduated and was preparing to begin the National Youth Service Corps programme.

“He had really suffered and gone through primary and secondary school, the College of Education, and the university. He had just graduated and was hoping to commence the National Youth Service Corps scheme,” he said.

Adum said Oje had hoped to support his family after completing his education and had several personal plans.

He said the deceased was not married and had no child but had a girlfriend whom he intended to marry.

According to him, Oje had already rented a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment in the Ikorodu area and was planning to settle down with his partner.

He also planned to raise money to establish a small business after marriage.

Last family meeting
Adum said the family had spent time with Oje just a day before his death.

He recalled that on Tuesday, August 25, Oje, two other relatives and himself gathered at Oje’s house, where they discussed their future and his plans for marriage and other personal goals.

They reportedly left his residence around 11pm or close to midnight.

Adum said they had advised Oje not to go to work the following day because they were expected to attend a friend’s naming ceremony.

However, Oje went to work and returned to the estate, where the fatal incident allegedly occurred.

The family is now calling for a proper investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“We are only relying on the government and the law. The law says that nobody has the right to take another person’s life, and anyone who does so should face the consequences,” Adum said.

“We have done everything within our power. Now, we are relying on the law to determine the justice that Mike and his family deserve.”

The police investigation and autopsy are expected to help establish the circumstances surrounding Oje’s death and determine the appropriate legal action.

Note: Allegations concerning the attack and the suspect’s actions are based on the account provided by Oje’s cousin, Peter Adum.

The suspect’s response and the outcome of the police investigation were not included in the material supplied.