Governors from 19 Northern states have expressed grief over the death of Hadiza Jega, wife of former INEC chairman Attahiru Jega. The Chairman of the Northern States Governors' Forum, Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, conveyed the group's condolences in a message issued Sunday, describing her passing as a painful and profound loss. Hadiza Jega died on Sunday and was buried the same day following Janazah prayers at the National Mosque in Abuja after Zuhr prayers. In the statement signed by his spokesperson, Ismaila Misilli, Yahaya praised her life of grace, humility and devotion to family values, saying she left a legacy of kindness, faith and compassion. He urged the family to find comfort in her impactful life and prayed for strength, patience and divine forgiveness for her. The Bayero University Kano also confirmed her death in a statement, noting her close ties to the institution through her husband's tenure as Vice-Chancellor. The university's Director of Public Affairs, Lamara Garba, confirmed the burial took place in Abuja under Islamic rites.
The unified gesture from 19 Northern governors reflects the symbolic weight Attahiru Jega still carries in Northern political circles. That such a broad coalition of state leaders rallied around him underscores how deeply his tenure at INEC resonates beyond electoral technicalities. For Nigerians, this moment highlights the intersection of public service, academic legacy and personal grief in a region where institutional trust is often fragile. The response is less about mourning alone and more about affirming respect for a figure who once held national processes in balance.
