How Death Claimed 10 National Assembly Lawmakers In 3 Years

In less than three years, from 2023 to 2026, Nigeria lost no fewer than 10 serving federal lawmakers.

The four senators and six House of Representatives members, mostly died of health-related issues. While some died in the country, others died abroad.

By JAMES KWEN AND PATIENCE IHEJIRIKA, Abuja

Senators

Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (1971 – 27, 2024)

Ubah, a business mogul, died in the United Kingdom on 27 July 2024, a few days after arrival. He served as the senator representing Anambra South senatorial district. Ubah had defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) shortly before his demise. The late Senator was warming up to seek the APC’s ticket ahead of the 2025 Anambra state governorship election.

Senator Okey Ezea (1963 – 2025)

Okey Ezea, senator representing Enugu North in Enugu state, had died at the age of 62 on 18 November 2025, after a brief illness. The lawmaker died at a private hospital in Lagos.

Senator Godiya Akwashiki (1973 – 2025)

Sen. Godiya Akwashiki (SDP/Nasarawa North) had died at the age of 52, following a protracted illness in an Indian hospital on 31 December 2025.

Senator Barinada Mpigi(1961– 2026)

The senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Barinada Mpigi, died on 19 February 2026 at the age of 64 after a brief illness. First elected to the lower house in 2011, he was reelected to a second term in December 2016. In 2019, he was elected as the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party.

Reps

Hon. Ismaila Maihanci(1986–2023)

Barely two months after he was elected to represent Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in Taraba State, Hon. Ismaila Maihanci passed on. He died on 22 April 2023 at the age of 36.

Maihanci had won the election on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

Born on 22 October 1986, Maihanci served as a Special Adviser to Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku. He had also served as the PDP Secretary in Taraba State.

Hon. Abdulkadir Danbuga (1960– 2023)

On 11 October 2023, Danbuga, who represented Isa/Sabon Birni Federal constituency of Sokoto State, passed away following a brief illness in Abuja. He was 63 years.

Hon Isa Dogonyaro (1977– 2023)

Dogonyaro, who was representing Garki/Babura Federal constituency of Jigawa State, died on 10 May 2024, at the age of 46, in Abuja after an undisclosed illness. Until his death, Dogonyaro was the deputy chairperson of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control.

Hon. 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 at the age of 51. Popularly called ‘Jagaban’, he was a member of the defunct APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams (1985 – 16 2024)

Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams (LP, Kaduna) died on 16 July 2024 at the age of 39. The deceased was a first-term member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State. House Spokesman / Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi, had disclosed this in a statement.

The statement, which did not indicate the cause and place of death, conveyed the House’s condolences to the family, friends, constituents of the late lawmaker, as well as the people and Government of Kaduna State.

“Rep. Adams was a dedicated public servant, passionate sports administrator, and kind philanthropist who, until his demise, chaired the House Committee on Sports.

“The dear departed lawmaker was a kind and gentle humanitarian, loved by all who knew him. His dedication to the development of grassroots sports in Nigeria was unwavering, and his contributions to the House will be deeply missed,” the statement had read.

Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (1965-2025)

Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, who represented the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun state, died on 15 January 2025, after a brief illness at the age of 59. He was the Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly before her demise.

Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in a statement, said: “It is with profound sorrow that the House of Representatives announces the passing of Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, who, until her demise, served as the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State. She passed away earlier today, 15 January 2025, after a brief illness. Representative Onanuga, born on 2 December 1965, was a dedicated public servant, a visionary leader, and a passionate advocate for her constituents. She was first elected to the House in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“During that tenure, she served as Chairperson of the House Committee on Women’s Affairs and Social Development in the 9th Assembly, where she championed policies to empower women and advance social welfare.

“Re-elected in 2023, she was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the 10th Assembly, a role in which she demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to legislative discipline, particularly during parliamentary sittings.

“Affectionately known as ‘-Ijaya_,’ Rep. Onanuga’s intellect, passion, humility, and drive for excellence earned her admiration among her colleagues and constituents alike. Her impactful contributions to Nigeria’s political landscape reflected her passion for creating a better society and her tireless dedication to public service.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, associates, the Government and People of Ogun State – particularly the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North constituency – and the entire membership of the National Assembly.”

Lawmakers should learn how to manage stress – Consultant Clinical Psychologist

The recurring deaths have raised conversations about the health status of many Nigerian lawmakers, as well as the overall stress associated with governance.

An Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Charles Umeh, said that “stress has been identified to cause a lot of health-related problems”, adding that it can also “worsen already existing health conditions.”

He explained that while ordinary, short-term stress is part of daily life, the danger lies in its persistence. “Stress will not lead to health conditions if it is not sustained. If you feel stressed and then you manage your stress, it’s not going to cause you any health complications,” he said.

However, he noted that problems arise when coping mechanisms fail. “If you feel stressed and maybe a coping mechanism does not take away the stressor, the stress is sustained, some hormones are secreted that are not supposed to stay too long in the body, they begin to affect other body systems, leading to so many stress-related health conditions.”

Umeh listed several health issues linked to prolonged stress, including mental health conditions, cardiovascular diseases, and digestive disorders. He said an example could be anxiety disorder, depression, and things like burnout.

He added that other ones can include heart and some blood conditions like hypertension.

Chronic stress, he said, can also damage the digestive system. “Stress has also been implicated in some digestive problems, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and this Irritable Bowel Syndrome can cause things like stomach pain, bloating, diarrhoea, and constipation.”

Umeh revealed that many people with IBS overlook the role stress plays in their symptoms. Most usually, they forget that their lifestyle stress has been at the root of the problem, he said.

He told LEADERSHIP Weekend that stress directly impacts immunity. “When you’re under stress, it weakens your immune system. And that makes you very susceptible to opportunistic infections, like cold and flu,” he explained.

He further linked stress to migraines, muscle tension, and chronic pain. saying “Stress also is implicated in chronic headaches or migraines, muscle tensions and body pain, back and neck pain.”

Dr Umeh said weight gain and metabolic changes are also common: “Some people, when they’re stressed, they start gaining weight, and this can lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes, as a result of long-term hormone imbalance,” he explained.

He warned that unmanaged stress is pushing some Nigerians into harmful coping patterns like alcohol and drug use. “When people are stressed, their happiness is taken away. This will push them into using substances; they start with cigarettes or alcohol, and they might develop into other substances.”

Clarifying misconceptions, the clinical psychologist said stress is part of normal functioning. He described stress as the body’s natural response to pressure, saying that “The body is designed in such a way that it can respond to stress; it is adaptive. In some cases, it prepares us for action.”

However, he said, when stress exceeds one’s ability to cope, it becomes distress. “Most of what we call stress is distress. When it becomes overwhelming to you, you go into distress, and that is when it begins to cause problems,” he explained.

Dr. Umeh outlined several coping strategies, beginning with awareness. “You can’t manage stress if you don’t identify the stressor, the first step in management is identifying the stressor.

“For you to manage it, you must activate parasympathetic response, which brings relaxation, deep breathing exercise, meditation, listening to calming music,” he said, adding that Physical activity is also critical. Exercises help you to release built-up tension, and they can improve your mood.”

On time management, Dr Umeh advised people to plan their tasks. Break their work into smaller steps and avoid procrastination.

He stressed the importance of social support, noting that human beings are social animals; talking to friends, family members, and mentors can go a long way, rather than going the lone-ranger way.

According to him, a healthy lifestyle and positive thinking also play major roles. Citing cognitive-behavioural principles, he said that people are disturbed not by things, but by the views they hold of things. “We encourage people to replace their negative thoughts with more realistic and encouraging ones.”

He urged Nigerians to take stress seriously to prevent avoidable illnesses, reiterating that short-term stress is very normal.