Former Kogi State Governor Ibrahim Idris died on Sunday at the age of 77.

In a statement signed by Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi Commissioner for Information, Governor Usman Ododo said the former governor’s death “robbed the state of an eminent son who devoted a significant part of his life to the service of the people”.

Ododo declared three days of mourning in honour of Idris and directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast throughout the period.

The governor also said Kogi State witnessed development and institutional growth during Idris’ administration.

Here are things to know about the late former Kogi governor Ibrahim Idris

Ibrahim Idris was born on April 6, 1949.

He was 77.

He served as Kogi governor from 2003 to 2012, with a brief interruption in 2008 following a court ruling on the 2007 governorship election.

He won the 2003 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeating the then incumbent, Abubakar Audu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Idris was re-elected in the 2007 governorship election, but his victory was later nullified after the election tribunal ruled that Audu’s name and photograph had been excluded from the ballot.

The tribunal ordered a fresh election, a decision Idris challenged at the Court of Appeal. In February 2008, the appellate court upheld the tribunal’s decision.

On February 6, 2008, Clarence Olafemi, then Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, was sworn in as acting governor pending the fresh election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently conducted a re-run governorship election in Kogi on March 29, 2008.

Idris won the re-run, while Audu came second. Audu again challenged the outcome at the tribunal.

In December 2008, the tribunal dismissed Audu’s petition and affirmed Idris’ election.

In June 2009, the Court of Appeal also dismissed Audu’s appeal for “lacking merit”.

Idris remained in office until January 2012, when he was succeeded by Idris Wada. (The Nation)