Delta Dismisses Uduaghan Death Report As Cruel Falsehood
Delta State Government has dismissed as false the reports circulating on several online platforms claiming that former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has died, describing the claim as cruel and irresponsible.
The clarification followed reports that surfaced late Wednesday night alleging that the two-term former governor had passed on, a claim that quickly spread across social media and sparked concern among political associates, supporters and residents.
Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Mr Ossai Ovie Success, said he moved swiftly to verify the report directly with the family before responding publicly. In a statement titled “Former Governor Uduaghan Is Alive – Death Rumour False,” Ossai said he spoke directly with Uduaghan’s daughter, Orode Uduaghan, who confirmed that the report was untrue.
“I have just seen reports circulating online claiming that the former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, is dead,” the statement read. “Some people have been reaching out to me asking, ‘Ossai Ovie Success, is the news real?’ I immediately reached out to his family to confirm. I spoke directly with his daughter, Orode Uduaghan, on the phone, and she confirmed that the news is false. Dr Uduaghan is alive.”
The media aide condemned those behind the rumour. “I am disappointed at those who spread such false information without verification,” he said, adding that spreading fake news about a person’s death “is cruel, irresponsible, and causes unnecessary pain to the family and millions of Deltans who hold him in high regard.” He urged the public “to disregard the rumour and avoid sharing unverified information,” stressing, “Dr Uduaghan is fine and not dead.”
Orode, the daughter who confirmed her father’s wellbeing, currently serves in the Delta State Government as Commissioner for Human Capital Development, placing the rebuttal close to the seat of the state administration.
The episode is far from the first time false claims about the former governor’s health have gained traction online. In June 2024, his media assistant, Monoyo Edon, similarly dismissed a viral post that claimed Uduaghan’s health had deteriorated and that he had been flown abroad. Edon described the former governor as “hale and hearty,” explaining that he was abroad on vacation while also undergoing routine medical check-ups. He branded that rumour “stale” and “false,” attributing it to a poster trying to “trend” by creating confusion.
Uduaghan remains one of Delta’s most influential political figures. A medical doctor by training and of Itsekiri origin, he was born on 22 October 1954 and governed the oil-rich state from 2007 to 2015 on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. He was re-elected in 2011 with more than 525,000 votes, and his administration is widely associated with the “Delta Beyond Oil” diversification agenda. In May 2025, he rejoined the All Progressives Congress after years of movement between the two parties.
His continued political relevance helps explain why hoaxes about him circulate so rapidly. With campaigns for the 2027 elections already stirring across Delta, the rapid spread of the false report underscores a wider Nigerian problem of unverified death claims targeting prominent figures. The swift family confirmation appears, for now, to have settled anxieties, though it is likely to renew calls for greater caution among online publishers.