A former two-time Commissioner and 2023 Delta State governorship aspirant, Kenneth Okpara, is dead.

UGAMATV gathered that the former commissioner declared his intention to contest for the state’s governorship position last week.

Okpara, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was said to have died in the early hours of Friday in an undisclosed hospital.

  Okpara was born on February 8, 1961, and hailed from Eku Kingdom, Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state,

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A political associate to Okpara, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the death to our correspondent.

He said, “Yes, Kenneth Okpara is dead. He died at about 4am this morning and that’s all I can say for now. May his soul rest in peace.”

Okpara served as Commissioner for Economic Planning from September 2011 to July 2013 and Commissioner for Finance from July 2013 to May 2015 under the Emmanuel Uduaghan administration.

Recall that a former Commissioner for Housing, Joseph Ogeh, died two weeks ago, after hosting a political meeting.

Other ex-commissioners, including a former commissioner for Women Affairs, Omoshola Williams and her counterpart in Commerce and Industry, Mrs Mary Iyasere,  died few months ago.