Senate Adjourns Emergency Plenary Following Death of House Member

The Nigerian Senate suspended its emergency plenary session on Tuesday, halting all scheduled legislative business, including the highly anticipated deliberation on the State Police Bill, to honor the memory of the late Hon. Yaya Tongo.

Tongo, who represented the Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State in the House of Representatives, passed away on June 12, 2026, at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja following a brief illness.

The upper chamber, which had reconvened from recess with plans to fast-track the constitutional amendment regarding the establishment of state police, shifted its focus to mourning the late lawmaker. Senate President Godswill Akpabio officially announced the death during the session, leading the chamber in observing a minute of silence before adjourning the proceedings until Wednesday.

In his tribute, Akpabio extended condolences to the bereaved family and acknowledged Tongo’s public service. The late lawmaker, who was initially elected under the Peoples Democratic Party, had recently defected to the African Democratic Congress in March 2026. His passing has been marked by tributes from several political figures who lauded his dedication to grassroots development and youth empowerment.

The adjournment effectively delays the Senate’s consideration of the State Police Bill, a central piece of legislation proposed by President Bola Tinubu to address national security concerns by creating a dual policing structure. Deliberations on the bill and other legislative matters are expected to resume when the Senate reconvenes on Wednesday.