Reps resume 2026 Legislative year with solemn tributes to fallen lawmakers

The House of Representatives on Tuesday reopened plenary for the 2026 legislative year on a sombre note, suspending routine legislative business to honour members of the National Assembly who died in recent months.

Presiding over the session, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, welcomed lawmakers back from recess and challenged them to embrace unity, discipline, and legislative excellence as work resumes for the year.

After preliminary proceedings, the tone of the chamber shifted as the House devoted the bulk of its sitting to condolence messages and reflections on the lives of deceased members of the 10th National Assembly. Lawmakers offered tributes, extended sympathies to grieving families and constituents, and acknowledged the Nigerian Senate, while highlighting the legacies of service and sacrifice left behind.

Among those remembered was Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Born on August 3, 1973, Akwashiki built a reputation as a grassroots politician and experienced legislator. He served two terms in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2019, where he rose to Majority Leader and later Deputy Speaker. Elected to the Senate in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, he became the only senator from Nasarawa North to win two consecutive terms. Until November 2025, he chaired the Senate Committee on Air Force. He died on December 31, 2025, at the age of 52.

The House also paid tribute to Senator Okechukwu “Okey” Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District under the Labour Party (LP). Born on August 11, 1963, Ezea was a lawyer and entrepreneur with a strong background in logistics and security before his election to the Senate in 2023. He was known for his intellectual contributions and advocacy for strong institutions. Until his death on November 18, 2025, at age 62, he served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committees on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, as well as Culture and Creative Economy.

Lawmakers further observed a minute of silence in honour of Senator John Kojo Brambaifa, who died on January 3, 2026, at the age of 81. Popularly known as JKB, Brambaifa was regarded as an elder statesman and a significant figure in the political evolution of the former Rivers State and present-day Bayelsa State. He represented Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the 5th National Assembly between 2003 and 2007.

In keeping with parliamentary tradition, plenary was adjourned until Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as a mark of respect for the departed lawmakers.