The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia, Uchenna Ikonne, has died, according to a family statement.

Mr Ikonne, an ally of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who clinched the party’s gubernatorial ticket in 2022, passed on on Wednesday morning at the National Hospital, Abuja, following a cardiac arrest. He was 65.

The academic-turned-politician had been ill for a while and received treatments in the United Kingdom for several months before recently returning to Nigeria, according to a statement signed by his son Chikezie Ikonne.

“Further details and arrangements would be made known to the public after deliberations and meetings are made within the family,” he said.

Abia politicians including John Okiyi have started paying tributes to Mr Ikonne, describing him largely as an academic who spent his life serving humanity through knowledge. The late professor was a one-time vice-chancellor of Abia State University (ABSU).