ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate suspended all legislative business, including consideration of the State Police Bill, during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, following the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Yaya Tongo.
Okay News reports that Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the suspension of proceedings to allow lawmakers to mourn their colleague and participate in burial rites.
“Let me mention that we will not go into any other discussion today. With heavy hearts, I announce the passing of our Honourable Member of the House of Representatives, Mallam Yaya Tongo, representing the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, who died during this brief recess and is being committed to Mother Earth,” Akpabio said.
Tongo passed away at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja on June 12, 2026, after a brief illness. He was first elected under the Peoples Democratic Party and secured re-election to the 10th National Assembly in 2023, before defecting to the African Democratic Congress in March 2026.
The adjournment delays deliberations on a constitutional amendment proposal transmitted by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, which seeks to create a dual policing structure consisting of federal and state police services.
