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In the last nine years – 2015 to 2024 – Nigeria lost no fewer than 29 serving federal lawmakers.
The eight senators and 21 House of Representatives members died within the period that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been in power.
LEADERSHIP checks reveal that the late lawmakers, from across the geo-political zones, mostly died of health-related issues, while one died of bullet wounds.
And while some died in the country, others died abroad.
Senators
Senator Ahmed Zanna (1955- 2015)
Zanna, a senator representing Borno Central, died in 2015.
Before his death, Zanna battled with an undisclosed illness which led to partial paralysis. He died after his return from the United States of America where he sought treatment.
Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke (15 January 1955 – 23 April 2017)
Adeleke was a two-time senator before his death. He ran under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in (Osun West) from 2007 to 2011 and was re-elected under the banner of APC in 2015.
The lawmaker suffered a heart attack before he died on April 23, 2017 at Biket Hospital in Osogbo, Osun State.
Senator Ali Wakili (1960 -2018)
Wakili, a retired controller of customs, was representing Bauchi South in the 8th Assembly when he died on March 17, 2018.
Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu (June 30, 1968– December 18, 2019)
Uwajumogu died as a result of an ailment. He was representing Imo North senatorial district in the 9th Assembly before his death.
Senator Ignatius Datong Longjan (19 May 1944 – 10 February 2020)
Longjan, a diplomat turned Senator, got into the Senate in 2019. He was representing the Plateau South senatorial district until his death in 2020.
He had served as the deputy governor of Plateau State from 2011 to 2015.
Senator Rose Okoji Oko (27 September 1956 – 23 March 2020)
Oko died on 23rd March 2020 while representing Cross River North.
She was also a Member of the House of Representatives representing Yala/Ogoja Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s 7th Assembly.
She was elected into office as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011 and sat as deputy chairman House Committee on Education.
Senator Adebayo Sikiru Osinowo (28 November 1955 – 15 June 2020).
Osinowo, until his death, represented Lagos East Senatorial District. Osinowo was a businessman and had previously served as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (September 3, 1971 – July 27, 2024)
Ubah, a business mogul, died in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2024, few days after arrival. Ubah had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) last year. He was later re-elected to the 10th Senate under the Young Progressive Party (YPP). The late Senator was billed to seek APC’s ticket ahead of the Anambra State governorship election.
Reps
Hon Olatoye Temitope Sugar (1973-2019)
Olatoye was representing Lagelu / Akinyele Federal Constituency when he died. He served as the chairman, House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning. The late lawmaker was shot in Lalupon, a community on the outskirts of Ibadan located in Lagelu Local Government of Oyo State, on March 9, 2019. He was rushed to the University College Hospital, Ibadan where he later died as a result of his gunshot wounds.
Hon Jafa’aru Iliyasu
Iliyasu was representing Magama/Rijau federal constituency of Niger State before he died in December 2019.
Jafa’aru, until his death, was a member of the ruling APC who reportedly died in his sleep after returning to Abuja from a retreat organised for members of the House Committee on Public Accounts in Lagos.
Hon Mohammed Adamu Fagen Gawo (1950- 2019)
Gawo died while representing Garki/Bubara constituency of Jigawa State for a second term. He died less than a month after another member of the House, Ja’afaru Illiyasu passed away.
According to reports, he died in Dubai, UAE, while on a medical trip.
Hon Bello Sani (1966- 2017)
Bello was the lawmaker representing Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency of Katsina State when he died on February 15, 2017, at the age of 51. It was gathered that the lawmaker suffered a protracted illness for months before giving up the ghost. The legislator died at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.
He was also a victim of banditry as he was kidnapped some months before his death while driving to his farm in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, but was later released.
Hon Umar Buba Jibril (1961- 2018)
Jibril, representing Lokoja/Kogi/Koton Karfe, was also deputy majority leader of the House. He died at the age of 57 at an Abuja hospital after a protracted illness.
Hon Elijah Adewale (1951-2018)
Adewale was, before his death, the lawmaker representing Ifako Ijaiye constituency of Lagos State. He reportedly slumped and died in the early hours of July 21, 2016, in his Abuja home. He was reported to have attended the caucus meeting of the House of Representatives in the evening of the previous day before his death.
Hon Musa Baba-Onwama
The late lawmaker was representing Nasarawa/Toto Constituency of Nasarawa State at the time of his death. He died at age 50.
Hon Abdullahi Wammako (1968- 2017)
Wammako, a first-time lawmaker, was representing Kware/Wammako federal constituency at the time of his death.
He contested and won the 2015 parliamentary election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Reports state that he died at an Abuja hospital after a brief illness.
Hon Yuguda Hassan-Kila (1951-2021)
Hassan-Kila, who represented Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2021, was until his death the chairman, House Committee on Customs and Excise. He died from an undisclosed illness in September, 2021, at the age of 70.
Hon Prestige Ossy (1965-2021)
Ossy was until his death a lawmaker representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency of Abia. He reportedly
died on February 7, 2021 in Germany where he was receiving treatment.
Hon Adedayo Omolafe (1964-2021)
Omolafe, who was representing Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency of Ondo in the House of Representatives, died during the annual recess in 2021.
Hon Haruna Maitala (1954-2021)
Hon. Maitala, who was representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State, died on April 2, 2021 in an auto crash along Abuja/Jos highway.
Hon Suleiman Lere
Lere, who was representing Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna, died after a brief illness on April 6, 2021. He was aged 53.
Hon Ekpenyong Bassey
Bassey, who was representing Oron Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, died on April 24, 2022.
Hon Abdulkadir Danbuga
On October 11, 2023, Danbuga, who was representing Isa/Sabon Birni Federal constituency of Sokoto State, passed on following a brief illness. He was 63 years.
Hon Isa Dogonyaro
Dogonyaro, who was representing Garki/Babura Federal constituency of Jigawa State, died on May 10, 2024, at the age of 46 in Abuja after undisclosed illness.
Until his death, Dogonyaro was the deputy chairperson of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control.
Musiliudeen Akinremi (1973-2024)
In July, Akinremi, a two-term member of the House of Representatives representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State, died in Abuja.
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