The death, yesterday afternoon, of Kogi political strongman, Prince Abubakar Audu, came after a secret three-day battle to save his life, it has been revealed. Initial reports had given the impression that former governor Audu, who beat incumbent governor, Captain Idris Wada, in the inconclusive Kogi governorship election of Saturday, died suddenly but this is not so.

A report this morning in Vanguard quoted family sources as disclosing that Audu’s death in his country home in Ogbonicha “followed complaints of stomach ache that commenced about Thursday.”

According to the report, “Sources said the condition which was first noticed in Lokoja worsened in his country home in Ogbonicha but aides were able to manage the prince to vote in the election in which he was standing as a governorship candidate for the sixth time.

“His condition, however, worsened late on Saturday and by yesterday morning he had died even before the result of the election could be declared. An eerie silence enveloped the country home as family members waited for the results of the election to be declared far away in Lokoja.

“Sources disclosed that at least two doctors from the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja and other medical personnel had been attending to him in his residence for some time and were with him until he died yesterday morning.

“However, it was not until about 2.30 p.m. that suspicion on the fate of the APC candidate emerged to the outside world. That was when an ambulance from the Federal Medical Centre arrived to carry the corpse, but the ambulance eventually left without the corpse of the late Audu.”

As at the time of his death, Prince Audu was leading in the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), scoring 240,867 votes while the incumbent Governor Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 199,514 votes.

The late Prince Audu was born on October 27, 1947 to the family of his Royal Highness, the late Pa Audu Oyidi, Orego Atta of Igala Land and the paramount ruler of Ogbonicha-Alloma in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

During campaigns, Prince Audu unveiled a three-point agenda, which he said he would pursue if elected. He promised to focus on power shift, declare a state of emergency in critical sectors of the state and concentrate on the interest of the people.

He had said: “Let me make my three-point agenda known to the people of the state because I want to be held responsible for my word later when I gain power. First, I will make sure that power shift becomes sacrosanct. I will be the first governor to change power in the state. I must honour my agreement that after my full tenure I will ensure power rotation either to Kogi West or Kogi Central.

“I will declare state of emergency on the critical sectors of the state especially in the infrastructural sector.

“The welfare of the people of the state remains a priority to me. Let no one deceive you, I have nothing but the best interest of the people at heart.”

The late strongman of Kogi politics is scheduled to be buried by 9 O’clock this morning in his home town in accordance with Islamic rites.

•Photo shows late Prince Abubakar Audu.