As Prince Abubakar Audu’s death continued to ignite shockwaves around the nation, one controversy that his death stirred was whether it was caused by the shock that INEC did not declare him the outright winner of Saturday’s election.
Some reports had said Audu died on Sunday morning before the result was even announced council by council.
In TheNEWS report, we said he died in the afternoon, before the pronouncement of INEC’s returning officer, Professor Emmanuel Kucha that the election was inconclusive and that there would be rerun polls in 91 units in 18 local councils to determine the winner between Audu and incumbent, Governor Idris Wada. Wee also reported that Audu’s health had taken a turn for the worse on that Sunday morning.
Wading into this controversy was Audu’s younger brother who told the Daily Trust newspaper that Audu died shortly after the results of the governorship was announced as inconclusive.
According to the report, Alhaji Tijani Audu revealed that his late brother died after the Returning Officer, Prof Emmanuel Kucha, declared the election inconclusive, and not on Sunday morning as being reported.
He told journalists that the late politician had listened to and watched the collation of the results before he died.
“I was with him when the whole thing started. I was told in the morning of Saturday that he was sick and I called him to confirm but he said he was okay and would be coming to vote by 1pm, and he came without showing any sign of sickness and we went together to vote.
“But the following day (Sunday) by 10 am, I went there to see him and his children said he was having health challenges and was weak, I even advised that after the announcement of the result he should go abroad for treatment”, he said.
The remains of the former governor were laid to rest in his country home, Ogbonicha in Ofu LGA.
Audu was buried at about 1.50 pm after the Chief Imam of Ankpa Central Mosque, Salman Adamu, led a mammoth crowd in the funeral prayers.