Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur, has died at the age of 90.
Tukur’s death was confirmed by family sources on Saturday, September 12, 2026, although the circumstances surrounding his passing had not been disclosed at the time of filing this report.
The elder statesman leaves behind a decades-long record spanning public administration, politics and business, having occupied several prominent positions at both state and federal levels.
Born on September 15, 1935, Tukur began his public-service career long before becoming a major figure in partisan politics. He served as General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority between 1975 and 1982, overseeing the agency during a significant period in Nigeria’s economic development.
His political career later took him to the governorship of the defunct Gongola State in 1983. His tenure, however, was cut short by the military coup that brought the Second Republic to an end.
Tukur subsequently served as Minister of Industries between 1993 and 1995 under the military administration of former Head of State, Sani Abacha.
Beyond government, he became an influential figure in African business circles, serving as Executive President of the African Business Roundtable and chairman of the NEPAD Business Group.
His return to the political spotlight came in March 2012 when he was elected National Chairman of the PDP. He remained in the position until January 2014, when he resigned amid a period of intense internal disagreements within the ruling party.
Tukur, who was also known by the traditional title Tafidan Adamawa, was honoured by the Nigerian government with the Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON.
His death marks the end of the life of a political and administrative figure whose career stretched across successive political eras, from the Second Republic to Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
He is survived by his wives, children and grandchildren.
