Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, the District Head of Kurfi in Katsina State and holder of the traditional title ‘Maradin Katsina,’ has died at the age of 93.
Born in 1931, Kurfi was a prominent figure in Nigeria’s civil service and electoral history. Before assuming the role of a traditional ruler, he held several high-ranking positions at the federal level, including deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence during the 1966 coup. He later served as a permanent secretary in the Office of the Head of Service.
Kurfi is perhaps best remembered as the first executive secretary of the defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), the precursor to today’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In this capacity, he oversaw Nigeria’s transition to civilian rule in 1979. Under his leadership, FEDECO organized the elections that brought Alhaji Shehu Shagari to power as the first executive president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Second Republic.
Details later…
