The pioneer National Chairman of Action Congress, Hassan Zurmi, has died.

Mr. Zurmi died in a private hospital in Kaduna after suffering from severe hypertension.

According to his friend, Salisu Maradun, the deceased died on Friday night after returning from a journey.

Mr. Zurmi, 49, survived by one wife and five children and had been buried in Gusau according to Islamic rites.

A former governor of Zamfara state, Mamuda Shinkafi, and other top politicians in the state were among those present at his burial.

Mr. Zurmi was until three months ago the commissioner of Commerce and Industry in Zamfara state. He resigned to contest for an undisclosed higher office.

Mr. Zurmi was succeeded by Bisi Akande, as chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, in 2006.

(NAN)