Former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has died at the age of 71, closing a chapter in the state’s political history after years of service in health administration and government leadership.

Uduaghan died on the morning of Monday, October 19, 2026, following a brief illness, according to a statement issued by his family. The announcement was signed by Toju Andre Uduaghan, who described the loss as a painful moment for the family and those who knew the former governor.

Before becoming governor, Uduaghan served as Delta State Commissioner for Health from 1999 to 2003. He later became Secretary to the State Government, a position he held from 2003 to 2007, before taking over the state’s leadership.

He served as governor from 2007 to 2015, completing two terms in office. During those years, his administration pursued human and infrastructural development programmes, according to the family’s statement announcing his death.

The family described Uduaghan as a father figure, respected elder and source of strength, saying his influence extended beyond the immediate family to people across Delta State and Nigeria. It expressed gratitude for his life and public service while offering prayers for comfort for those mourning him.

His death marks the loss of a former state leader whose career spanned several important government positions over more than a decade. The family said his memory would remain with those whose lives he touched, although it did not announce funeral arrangements in the statement.

As tributes emerge, Uduaghan’s years in public office are likely to remain a significant part of discussions about Delta State’s political history. For his family, however, the immediate loss is personal, as they mourn a husband, father, brother, uncle and patriarch whose presence, they said, would be deeply missed.