Reps mourn late Gombe lawmaker, adjourn sitting

The Nigerian House of Representatives has adjourned its plenary session until Wednesday, suspending legislative business in tribute to a late colleague, Bauchi Tongo. Tongo, who represented the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, died last month.

The adjournment occurred during the House's first sitting after its end-of-legislative-year recess. Presiding over the brief session, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu led members in a moment of reflection for the deceased legislator before announcing the suspension of proceedings. This action adheres to the National Assembly's established tradition of honoring departed lawmakers.

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Honourable members, we are adjourning today’s plenary in honour of our colleague, Hon Bauchi Tongo, who passed on a few weeks ago.

Bauchi Tongo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, passed away on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja following a brief illness. During the short plenary session, lawmakers offered prayers for the repose of his soul. Muslim prayers were led by Usman Kumo (APC, Gombe), and Christian prayers were led by Cyril Hart (APC, Rivers).

Deputy Speaker Kalu urged members to attend the sitting to honor their late colleague, emphasizing the importance of such tributes regardless of the absence of legislative work. He remarked, "Honourable members, we are adjourning today’s plenary in honour of our colleague, Hon Bauchi Tongo, who passed on a few weeks ago." Kalu added, "Even though we are not holding a plenary session today, members still need to come to honour one of our own because we don’t know when your turn will come. We pray that God will rest his soul."

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Even though we are not holding a plenary session today, members still need to come to honour one of our own because we don’t know when your turn will come. We pray that God will rest his soul.