Bamanga Tukur, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ex-governor of old Gongola State, has died at the age of 90.
Tukur died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, just three days before his 91st birthday, his family announced.
The late elder statesman, born on September 15, 1935, in Adamawa State, had a long career spanning politics, public administration, business and international economic affairs.
He became governor of Gongola State in 1982 after winning election during the Second Republic. His administration was terminated following the military coup of December 1983.
Tukur subsequently served as Minister of Industries under the military government of General Sani Abacha between 1993 and 1995.
Earlier in his career, he headed the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer between 1975 and 1982.
His return to partisan politics culminated in his emergence as national chairman of the PDP in March 2012. He remained the party's national chairman until 2014.
Beyond government and party politics, Tukur was prominent in Nigeria's business community and continental economic initiatives.
He founded BHI Holdings, popularly known as Daddo Group, and was a founding member, former president and life patron of the Africa Business Roundtable.
He also served as chairman of the NEPAD Business Group and was the first African to become vice-president of the International Association of Ports and Harbours.
In academia, Tukur earned a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States. He was subsequently conferred with an honorary doctorate in law by Benue State University, Makurdi.
The former PDP chairman was also a traditional title holder in Adamawa State, where he was known as the Tafidan Adamawa and Wakilin Ganye.
His death comes as the former governor was approaching his 91st birthday, bringing to an end a public career that spanned several decades and different phases of Nigeria's political and economic history.
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