Governor of defunct Gongola State, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Dies at 90
By KEMI KASUMU
Governor of defunct Gongola State (current Adamawa and Taraba states), His Excellency Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has passed away.
According to his family, Tukur reportedly died on Saturday September 12, 2026 at his residence in Abuja after a prolonged illness. He was aged 90.
Janazah (funeral ceremony) of the late prominent businessman was expected to take place same day at the Palace of the Lamido of Adamawa in Yola, Adamawa State.
During the Second Republic between 1979 and 1983, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was Governor of Gongola State, which was later divided into Adamawa and Taraba states, and played prominent roles in the Nigeria’s political and business circles.
He later became Minister of Industries under the military administration of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
He was the pioneer National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which ruled for 16 years under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Umar Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan from 1999 until Muhammadu Buhari-ler All Progressives Congress (APC) took power from it on May 29, 2015.
He also sought to contest the Nigerian presidency before emerging as National Chairman of the PDP, a position from which he played a significant role in the party’s affairs and Nigeria’s political development.
Tukur is survived by 17 children.
His death comes as Nigeria’s political class continues to mourn the passing of a number of prominent figures who played significant roles in the country’s political history.
