Former Delta State governor Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has died at the age of 71, just three days before his 72nd birthday, his family has announced.
A statement signed by his son, Toju Anire Uduaghan, on behalf of the family, said the former governor died on the morning of Monday, October 19, 2026. The statement did not give a cause of death or say where he died.
“It is with hearts weighed down by immeasurable grief and profound sorrow that we announce the passing to glory of our beloved Father, Brother, Uncle, and Patriarch, His Excellency, Dr. Chief Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State, who departed this world on the morning of 19th October 2026,” the statement read.
“A source of strength”
The family described his passing as devastating and said words could hardly express the depth of their sorrow. They remembered him as a man who meant a great deal to them and whose life and service touched countless people across Delta State and Nigeria.
“He was a source of strength, a father figure, a beloved brother and uncle, and a respected elder. We will deeply miss his presence and forever cherish the memories and legacy he leaves behind,” the statement said.
Two decades in public service
The family also set out the main stages of his public career. According to the statement, Uduaghan served as Commissioner for Health in Delta State from 1999 to 2003. He then became Secretary to the Delta State Government, a post he held from 2003 to 2007.
He went on to serve as governor of the state for two terms, from 2007 to 2015. The family said that throughout his years in public service, he showed a commitment to the human and infrastructural development of Delta State.
Together, those roles span 16 years in the state’s top offices, from the health ministry through the civil service leadership to the governor’s seat.
A loss to Delta and Nigeria
The statement said his death was a profound loss to the family, the people of Delta State and Nigeria at large. The family expressed gratitude to God for his life, his service and the legacy he leaves behind.
They also prayed that God would grant his soul eternal rest and comfort relatives, friends, associates, former colleagues and everyone mourning him. “We are grateful to Almighty God for his life, his service, and the legacy he leaves behind,” the statement added.
Earlier death rumour
His death follows an earlier false alarm about his health. In June, his family and an aide dismissed reports that he had died, telling the public that he was alive and recuperating. This time, the announcement comes directly from the family.
What happens next
The family has not yet announced funeral arrangements. Details of burial plans, tributes from the Delta State government, political figures and the wider public are expected to follow in the coming days.
For many in Delta State, the news will mark the end of a long chapter in the state’s public life, one that began in the health sector and ended with eight years as its chief executive. The family has asked for prayers as they come to terms with their loss.