Former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko has paid tribute to the late Emmanuel Uduaghan, saying the former Delta State governor brought healing to governance and left lasting marks, according to The Guardian Nigeria News. The paper reported the remark on Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Mimiko's tribute was one of several from prominent Nigerian figures following Uduaghan's death. Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the passing as shocking and a great loss to Nigeria and the people of the Niger Delta, Channels Television reported. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori also sent condolences to the bereaved family, according to The Guardian Nigeria News.
The Senate observed a moment of mourning for Uduaghan and recalled his part in the Niger Delta amnesty programme and in efforts at regional integration, THISDAYLIVE reported.
In Delta State, a community suspended trading and farming to mourn the former governor, Punch Newspapers reported, a sign of how closely his death has been felt at the local level.
Uduaghan's tenure as governor of the oil-producing state and his involvement in the amnesty arrangement for militants in the Niger Delta are central to how he is being remembered. The reactions reported so far come from across the political spectrum and from the Senate, suggesting a widely shared assessment of his public role.
Further statements from state and federal figures, along with details of the funeral arrangements, are expected in the coming days.
