Idris died in London, United Kingdom, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, after nearly nine years at the helm of affairs in Kogi State. His death was confirmed by family members and political associates.
Popularly known as Ibro, Idris became Kogi governor in 2003 after defeating the then incumbent, Abubakar Audu, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His second-term victory in the 2007 election was later nullified by the courts following a legal dispute over the exclusion of Audu, the All Nigeria Peoples Party candidate, from the ballot.
A fresh election was held in March 2008, which Idris won, allowing him to return to office. He remained governor until January 2012, when he handed over to Captain Idris Wada, his brother-in-law.
Beyond his political career, Idris was a businessman with interests in construction, furniture manufacturing, hospitality and general commerce. He founded Ibro Trading Company and established a furniture business in Sokoto before expanding into the hotel industry.
The Ibro Hotel in Sokoto was described in historical accounts as the first three-star hotel in the old Sokoto State.
Idris also attracted national attention in 2006 when three of his daughters survived the ADC Airlines Flight 53 crash. He subsequently described their survival as a “superlative show of mercy” from God.
His later years were marked by another major family loss when his son, Mohammed Ibrahim Idris, a former member of the House of Representatives, died in Abuja in April 2024.
Following the former governor’s death, Kogi Governor Usman Ododo declared three days of mourning and directed that the national and Kogi State flags be flown at half-mast across government offices and designated public institutions.
The state government also announced that Idris would receive a state burial, with the government taking responsibility for the arrangements and expenses.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in accordance with Islamic rites.
Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris has died at the age of 77
