Vincent Ogbulafor, former PDP chairman, is dead

Vincent Ogbulafor, a former chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is dead.

Ogbulafor died in Canada on Thursday after a brief undisclosed illness.

The late PDP chairperson, who died aged 73, was born on May 24, 1949, in Olokoro, Umuahia south LGA of Abia state.

He was also a former national secretary of the PDP.

While serving as the party’s chairman, he resigned his appointment after being charged with alleged financial recklessness.

He was reputed to have boasted that the PDP would rule for 40 years, a declaration truncated by the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2015 presidential poll.

Ogbulafor was succeeded as the party’s national chairman by Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former Enugu governor.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari commiserated with leaders and members of the PDP, the Olokoro Royal family in Umuahia, as well as the government and people of Abia over the loss of the former party chieftain.

The president said Ogbulafor will be remembered for his role in the nation’s democratic growth.

He also commended his zeal in sustaining the unity and progress of the country.

Meanwhile, Orji Kalu, the senate chief whip, said the late politician contributed to the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

“Having held various positions in the public sector, the deceased played notable roles in the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria,” Orji Kalu said.