By Tracy Moses
The House of Representatives on Tuesday resumed plenary after its end-of-legislative-year recess but immediately adjourned sitting in honour of the late member representing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Hon. Bauchi Tongo.
The brief session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, was devoted to prayers for the deceased lawmaker in keeping with the House’s parliamentary tradition of honouring serving members who die in office.
Lawmakers observed a moment of silence before offering prayers for the repose of Tongo’s soul. Hon. Usman Kumo (APC, Gombe) led the Muslim prayers, while Hon. Cyril Hart (APC, Rivers) led the Christian prayers.
Addressing members before announcing the adjournment, Kalu said the day’s sitting was convened solely to honour their departed colleague.
“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 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.”
The House subsequently adjourned plenary to Wednesday, July 8, when legislative business is expected to resume.
Tongo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), died in Abuja on June 12, 2026, after a brief illness. He passed away at the Nizamiye Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory.
His death created a vacancy in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency seat and is expected to trigger the process for a bye-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
It is customary for both chambers of the National Assembly to suspend legislative proceedings following the death of a serving member. Such sittings are typically reserved for prayers and tributes before normal parliamentary business resumes.
Tuesday’s adjournment reflected that long-standing parliamentary tradition, with lawmakers setting aside legislative business to pay their final respects to a colleague whose tenure was cut short while in office.