Vincent Eze Ogbulafor

Vincent Eze Ogbulafor (24 May 1949^[1] – 6 October 2022) was a Nigerian politician.

He was a former chairman of the People's Democratic Party. Prior to this post, he was National Secretary of the same party.^[2] He resigned his appointment as the chair after he was charged for an alleged financial recklessness while serving as a minister.^[3]

He was a prince of Olokoro, Umuahia South, the local government of Abia State.^[2]

Ogbulafor died on 6 October 2022, at the age of 73.^[4]

Early life and education

Vincent Eze Ogbulafor was born on 24 May 1949 in Itaja Obioha, Olokoro, in present-day Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. He was a prince of the Olokoro community.

He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and received part of his higher education at Lake Forest College in the United States.^[5][6]

Political career

Vincent Eze Ogbulafor became active in Nigerian politics through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he rose through the party's organisational structure. Before attaining national party leadership, he served as National Secretary of the PDP and held government positions, including serving as a commissioner in Abia State.

During the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ogbulafor was appointed Minister of State for Economic Matters in the Presidency, where he participated in federal government activities relating to economic policy and administration.

In the 1999 general election, he contested for the governorship of Abia State but was not elected. He later continued his political activities within the PDP and was elected National Chairman of the party at its national convention in Abuja in March 2008, succeeding Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd.).

As PDP National Chairman, Ogbulafor led the party's national administration and coordinated its activities during a period when the PDP controlled the federal government and several state governments. His tenure included preparations for the 2011 general elections.

In April 2010, he resigned as National Chairman after allegations of financial misconduct were raised against him in relation to his earlier service as a minister. He denied wrongdoing and stated that his resignation was in the interest of the party.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Death

Vincent Eze Ogbulafor died on 6 October 2022 at the age of 73 in Canada after an illness.^{[12][13][14][15]}