Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Col. Sam Inokoba (retd) who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) died in his house in the presence of his family. This negates the earlier version of the story that he died in the home of political rival, Timi Alibe, also a guber contender on the ticket of the APC.

The family insists that Inokoba, aged 67, did not slump and die in the home of Mr ‘Timi Alaibe another top Bayelsa Politician who like Inokoba defected from the PDP two weeks ago to join the APC and possibly also contest for the party’s Gubernatorial ticket. Wednesday slumped and died in Lagos while on a private visit to his family.

According to his son, Waripamo Inokoba, “my father slumped at about 2 am (in the early hours of Wednesday) and was confirmed dead before he was taken to the hospital. Some of our people are on their way to Lagos to bring back his corpse.”

The Inokoba family, in a statement signed by the late politician’s elder brother, Clee Inokoba and first son, Waripamowei Inokoba, confirmed the incident.

Political associates and family members claimed the Inokoba may have died of food poisoning, while others claimed that his health was frail and should have gone on a deserved holiday devoid of political activities.

One of the early sympathizers that visited Inokoba’s home was a former member of the State House of Assembly, Indutimi Komonibo, who wrote in the condolence register: “You are a great loss to us. Hard to believe. But no one can question God.”

The Bayelsa State Government also expressed shock over Inokoba’s demise. According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Daniel Markson-Iworiso, “the death of Retired Colonel Inokoba is sad and a painful loss to the state.

“He will greatly be missed by his family and close associates especially the political class. We pray that God grant the family the fortitude with which to bear the irreparable loss as well as grant his soul eternal rest. We assure the family of the government’s preparedness to support and participate in the rites of passage for the late Col. Inokoba.”

In his condolence massage, the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, described Inokoba as a great community leader and an intelligent politician whose contributions to society will be missed by the whole Bayelsa and, indeed, Nigeria.

The former Governor in a statement issued via e-mail, by his Media Adviser, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, said Wednesday’s death of Inokoba had left a vacuum that would be impossible to fill.

Sylva, who is also the state’s APC leader, stated: “The news of the death of Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd) was a terrible shock to me, my family, and the entire All Progressives Congress family both in Bayelsa State and Nigeria, in general. We share the grief of his family and friends.

“Inokoba was not only close to me, personally, but as a new convert to the current change agenda in Bayelsa State, we shared dreams of a better state, thoughts about the challenges ahead, and regrets about the condition of things in our state. He leaves a vacuum that can never be filled. His intellect, political sagacity, insight, and passion for the state, the Ijaw nation, and Nigeria, generally, were wonderful qualities that we cherished.