The House of Representatives resumed its weekly sittings for the new legislative year on Tuesday on a solemn and reflective note.
The plenary was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, who welcomed Honourable Members to the 2026 legislative year and urged a renewed commitment to unity, discipline, and legislative excellence.
Following key announcements, the House devoted the sitting largely to moments of condolence in honour of distinguished members of the 10th National Assembly who recently passed on. Lawmakers paid tribute to the departed legislators, offering heartfelt condolences to their families, constituents, and the Senate, while reflecting on the enduring legacies of public service they left behind.
Among those honoured were Senator Godiya Akwashiki, who represented Nasarawa North Senatorial District on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Senator Okechukwu “Okey” Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District on the platform of the Labour Party (LP).
Born on August 3, 1973, the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki was a seasoned legislator and grassroots political leader. He served two terms in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2019, rising to Majority Leader and later Deputy Speaker, before his election to the Nigerian Senate in 2019 and subsequent re-election in 2023. He remains the only Senator from Nasarawa North Senatorial District to have secured two consecutive terms. Until November 2025, he served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, before his passing on December 31, 2025, at the age of 52.
The late Senator Okechukwu Ezea, born on August 11, 1963, was a lawyer and entrepreneur elected to the Senate in 2023. Prior to his election, he built a successful private-sector career in logistics and security. Renowned for his intellectual depth and institutional advocacy, he contributed significantly to governance, cultural policy, and continental cooperation. He served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committees on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, and Culture and Creative Economy, until his passing on November 18, 2025, at the age of 62.
The House also paid tribute to the memory of Senator John Kojo Brambaifa (December 14, 1944 to January 3, 2026). Popularly known as JKB, he was a respected elder statesman and a prominent figure in the political evolution of the former Rivers State and present-day Bayelsa State. He served as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the 5th National Assembly from 2003 to 2007.
In line with parliamentary tradition, the House adjourned plenary until Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in honour of the departed lawmakers.
