Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been reported dead.

Inokoba, who hoped to contest the APC governorship primaries, reportedly died last night after slumping at a meeting in the Lagos residence of another APC governorship aspirant and former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Timi Alaibe.

The news of his sudden death came as a rude shock to his close associates in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Wednesday morning as it was being discussed in hushed tones among members of the APC.

A local radio station, Royal FM, has since been reporting Inokoba’s death as breaking news.

A reliable source said Inokoba slumped and died on the spot during a heated argument with Alaibe on the governorship ambition of both politicians.

The argument arose, said the source, when the late Inokoba was told to drop his governorship ambition to allow Alaibe emerge as the only aspirant from Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area since both men hailed from the area.

Inokoba was said to have picked his governorship form two days ago to contest the forthcoming APC guber primaries.

A source confirmed that immediately he got his form, he went to Lagos on the invitation of Alaibe for “crucial talks” on the need for him (Inokoba) to shelve his ambition and allow Alaibe become the sole aspirant from their local government.

•Photo shows late Inokoba.