Senate adjourns plenary to honour late Senator Ezea

…Akpabio leads lawmakers on condolence visit

The Senate on Tuesday adjourned its plenary session in honour of the late Okechukwu Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District under the Labour Party before his death on November 18, 2025.

The announcement was made by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who informed the chamber of the passing of the lawmaker “with a very heavy heart.”

He said, “Distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with a very heavy heart, Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I announce the passing of Distinguished Senator Okechukwu Ezea, representing Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, a member of the Labour Party, who died on Tuesday, 18th November 2025.”

Bamidele added, “Mr. President, consistent with our tradition, as well as our parliamentary customs and conventions, I will be moving that we suspend all proceedings.”

Read also: Enugu North Senator, Okey Ezea, is dead

In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio moved that the chamber immediately suspend its legislative activities to allow lawmakers visit the deceased senator’s family.

Akpabio said, “I decided that we will proceed to pay a condolence visit on the family of late Senator Okechukwu Ezea, and at a date we will agree with the family when we will be able to hold a valedictory session in his memory.”

He then called for a formal motion of adjournment.

“I would like to call to motion by the Leader of the Senate, that in honour of the demise of one of us, Senator Ezea, the Senate do adjourn to next legislative day. I so second,” he declared.

Akpabio further explained the decision to suspend deliberations. “In line with parliamentary practices worldwide, I will suspend all deliberations for today to go and pay condolence on the family,” he said, before putting the question to vote.

After senators chorused “aye,” he announced logistical arrangements for the visit; “We will proceed outside. We have buses waiting now. We will go straight to the family.”

Before departing, Akpabio directed the chamber to honour the deceased lawmaker with silence.

“When we are yet to hold a valedictory session, I think it is appropriate that we rise and observe one minute’s silence in his honour before we depart,” he said.

Shortly after adjournment, the Senate President led a delegation of lawmakers to the Abuja residence of the late senator.

Speaking to the bereaved family, Akpabio said the visit was to show solidarity and compassion.

He told them, “It is not always a very good experience to stay with a colleague for over two years, see each other daily, see him more than family members and then all of a sudden he vanishes just like that.”

He added, “We are gathered here in our numbers to commiserate with your family and to let you know that you are not alone in mourning your late husband, father, brother and your late uncle, Distinguished Senator Ezea.”

Describing the late Ezea, Akpabio said, “For the brief period that we have interacted with him in the Senate, he was a man of peace.

“He was a man who related with his colleagues with dignity and respect.”

He expressed shock at the senator’s sudden death, noting, “There was never a time he walked into the chamber and showed that he was sick in any form.

“But the news came suddenly that he has passed on.”

Responding on behalf of the family, Jideofor Ezea, son of the late senator, thanked the Senate President and lawmakers for their visit and comforting words.

He said the family would always remember the gesture and expressed appreciation for their prayers and encouragement.

A date for the Senate’s valedictory session in honour of Senator Ezea will be announced in consultation with the family.