Nigerian Senator Okey Ezea, a Labour Party member representing Enugu North, has died at the age of 62. His death was confirmed by his son, Jideofor, who issued a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the announcement, the lawmaker died in a private Lagos hospital at about 11:07 p.m. on Tuesday, 18 November, following a brief illness. “Until his demise, Sen. Ezea remained an active and influential voice in the 10th Senate,” the statement added.
During the current legislative session, Ezea served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. He also held vice-chair roles in several committees, including Housing and Urban Development; Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD; and Culture and Creative Economy.
His legislative portfolio included sponsoring a bill to create the Federal College of Agriculture, Adani, as well as championing the campaign for the creation of Adada State—an effort described by his family as a life-long political priority. He also moved a motion calling for a military base in Uzo-Uwani to address persistent attacks and killings by violent herdsmen.
Before his election in 2023, Ezea was a founding figure in the APC in Enugu in 2013, having previously contested the governorship three times: in 2007 and 2011 under the Labour Party, and in 2015 under the APC. His victory in the 2023 senatorial election, where he defeated an incumbent governor, marked a significant milestone in his political career.
Outside elective politics, he served as Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. The senator is survived by his wife, Chioma, and their four children. The family has asked the public to keep them in their prayers as they grieve.
