Former PDP Chairman Bamanga Tukur Dies at 90

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, a former National Chairman of Nigeria's Peoples Democratic Party and a prominent statesman, has died at the age of 90. His passing on Saturday, September 12, 2026, has prompted widespread mourning from political figures and parties across the country. Tukur's death was confirmed in a statement from his family. He was born on September 15, 1935, and had a long career in public service and business. His roles included serving as Governor of the old Gongola State in 1983, Minister of Industries from 1993 to 1995, and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982. He later became National Chairman of the PDP in March 2012, a tenure that lasted until his resignation in January 2014. The PDP described him as a distinguished statesman whose decades of service left an enduring mark on the nation's political, economic, and democratic development. The party noted his leadership came at a significant period in its history. Former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed grief, calling Tukur a distinguished patriot and elder statesman.