Reps adjourn plenary to honour late Gombe lawmaker

The House of Representatives on Tuesday adjourned plenary until Wednesday, July 8, in honour of the late member representing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Bauchi Tongo, who died last month.

The House, which resumed from its end-of-legislative-year recess, held only a brief sitting before suspending proceedings in keeping with the National Assembly’s tradition of paying tribute to deceased lawmakers.

The session was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who led members in observing a moment of silence for the late legislator before announcing the adjournment.

Tongo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, died in Abuja on Friday, June 12, 2026, after a brief illness. He passed away at the Nizamiye Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.

During the brief plenary, lawmakers offered prayers for the repose of his soul, with Usman Kumo (APC, Gombe) leading the Muslim prayers and Cyril Hart (APC, Rivers) leading the Christian prayers.

Related News Controversial budget items are N’Assembly constituency projects – Almajiri commission

APC defends substitution of candidates after primaries, denies law violations

Atiku faults Tinubu over Almajiri commission budget, PFIPC scandal

Announcing the adjournment, Kalu urged members to attend the sitting in honour of their late colleague despite the absence of legislative business.

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

The House subsequently adjourned plenary to Wednesday, July 8, when legislative business is expected to resume.

It is customary for both chambers of the National Assembly to suspend plenary following the death of a serving member as a mark of respect. Such sessions are usually devoted to tributes and prayers before normal legislative activities continue.