Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one-time Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, has passed away at the age of 78.

Ogbeh, a seasoned politician and elder statesman, served as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2015 to 2019. Before then, he was a prominent figure in the PDP, where he chaired the party between 2001 and 2005 during a critical period in Nigeria’s democratic transition.

Born on August 28, 1947, in Benue State, Ogbeh had a long and distinguished career in Nigerian politics. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 1979 under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) during the Second Republic.

After Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, he became a founding member of the PDP and later emerged as its national chairman. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilise the party amid internal crises, though he eventually resigned in 2005 following disagreements with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In 2015, he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was appointed Minister of Agriculture, where he championed policies aimed at boosting food production and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports.

Political leaders across party lines have expressed condolences, describing Ogbeh as a dedicated public servant and a stabilising force in Nigerian politics.

President Bola Tinubu, in a statement, praised Ogbeh’s “unwavering commitment to national development,” while PDP leaders acknowledged his contributions to the party’s early successes.

While the exact cause of death has not been officially disclosed, family sources indicate he had been managing age-related health challenges in recent years.

The family is expected to release details of burial plans in the coming days.

Ogbeh is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.