The Nigerian Senate is in mourning. Senator Okechukwu Ezea, the representative for Enugu North Senatorial District, has passed away.
The lawmaker died on the night of Tuesday, November 18, 2025. He passed away at a private hospital in Lagos after a brief illness. He was 62 years old.
His colleague, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), confirmed the death on Wednesday morning. Additionally, the Ezea family has issued an official statement corroborating the sad news.
“A Wise and Gentle Man”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan paid a moving tribute to her late colleague on Facebook. She described him as a source of strength during her time in the Red Chamber.
She wrote:
“Rest in peace Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea. You were a good man! Wise and gentle. Your prayers kept me going through my darkest moments.”
Family Confirms Passing
The late Senator’s son, Jideofor Ezea, formally confirmed the details on Wednesday.
“The Senator died at a private hospital in Lagos at about 11:07 p.m. on Tuesday,” the statement read.
Consequently, the family has requested prayers from the public. They noted that they will announce burial arrangements in due course.
A Life of Service
Okechukwu Ezea was born on August 11, 1963. He hailed from Itchi, Igbo-Eze South. Throughout his life, he built a distinguished career in law, business, and politics.
Popularly known as “Ideke,” he was a political heavyweight. He became a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State in 2013. Furthermore, he served as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2015 general elections.
Later, he served as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo. He held this position from 2018 until 2022. eventually, he resigned to join the Labour Party.
In the 2023 general elections, Ezea achieved a historic victory. He defeated the incumbent governor to clinch the senatorial seat. Until his death, he remained the only federal lawmaker from Enugu State elected on the Labour Party platform.
Key Senate Roles
During his time in the 10th Senate, Ezea held several important positions. These included:
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Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
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Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
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Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Creative Economy.
