Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, the first governor of Anambra State in the current Fourth Republic, has passed away at the age of 78.

According to a statement from his family, he died on Tuesday at the National Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness.

Dr. Mbadinuju was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to govern Anambra State after the return to democracy in 1999, and he served as governor from 1999 to 2003.

However, his tenure was marred by a power struggle with his supposed political godfather, Emeka Offor, a political kingmaker in Anambra State.

The dispute between the two men crippled the machinery of government in the state, resulting in prolonged strikes by teachers, civil servants, and court workers.

During his time in office, Dr. Mbadinuju passed a law that created the state Vigilante Services, which legally recognized the Bakassi Boys, a popular vigilante group credited with reducing crime in the state.

He also aligned with Chris Uba, another power broker in the state who later fell out with him.

Dr. Mbadinuju, who was an associate professor of politics and African studies at the State University of New York before entering politics, claimed that he was excluded from the governorship contest in 2003 despite winning the PDP primaries, allegedly due to opposition from Uba and former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has extended his condolences to Dr. Mbadinuju’s family and has urged them to sustain his good legacies.

He also prayed for the eternal repose of Dr. Mbadinuju’s soul. Born on June 14, 1945, Dr. Mbadinuju was married to Nnebuogo Mbadinuju and had five children.