Adamawa council loses second chairman in 18 months as Yahya Saidu dies

The chairman of Fufore Local Government Area in Adamawa State, Yahya Saidu, has died barely three months after assuming office, marking the second time in about 18 months that the council has lost a sitting chairman.

Saidu died on Friday, October 9, 2026, according to reports confirming his death. He was sworn in as chairman on July 15, 2026, following the local government elections in the state.

His death was confirmed on Saturday by Aliyu Wakili, a member of the House of Representatives representing Fufore/Song Federal Constituency, in a condolence message.

Wakili described the late chairman’s death as a significant loss to the people of Fufore and Adamawa State, while praying for the repose of his soul and strength for his family and associates.

“His passing is a great loss to the people of Fufore and Adamawa State at large,” the lawmaker said.

Saidu’s death comes about 18 months after his predecessor, Shuaibu Babas, died in office on April 23, 2025.

Babas’s death had triggered a succession dispute in the local government, with the delayed swearing-in of his deputy, Peace Samson Audu, sparking protests and public criticism before she eventually assumed office.

The successive deaths of two chairmen serving the same local government have drawn attention to the unusual circumstances surrounding the council’s leadership in less than two years.

As of Saturday, further details about the circumstances of Saidu’s death and his burial arrangements had not been made public.

Tributes and prayers have continued to emerge from political associates, community leaders and residents mourning the late chairman.