Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Vincent Ogbulafor died on Thursday. 

Mr Ogbulafor, 73, died in Canada after a brief illness and would be buried next year, as announced by his lawyer and close associate, Goddy Uwazurike. 

“Chief Vincent Ogbulafor KSM really died in the early hours of today in Canada at 73. The Royal Family of Ogbulafor will announce a date for the burial ceremonies, which will most likely take place next year.

“He was the head of the family. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord. Let perpetual light shine on him,” Mr Uwazurike said.

Mr Ogbulafor was the pioneer national secretary of the then-ruling PDP and later became its national chairman, a position he resigned in 2010 after he was accused and charged of corruption and financial recklessness. The 17-count charge was dismissed in 2014 by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

Mr Ogbulafor is remembered as boasting that the PDP would hold on to power for 60 years, an expectation which was abridged after President Muhammadu Buhari won the 2015 general elections against incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.