The death has been announced of Distinguished Senator Okechukwu Nzeogwu Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate.
In a statement issued Wednesday (today, November 19) on behalf of his family, Senator Ezea’s eldest son, Jideofor, said his father died yesterday (Tuesday, November 18) in a private hospital in Lagos at about 11.07pm, after a brief illness.
Until his demise, Senator Ezea was an active and influential voice in the 10th Senate who, at the commencement of the legislative session, served as Chairman of the Senate
Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Senator Ezea later assumed other strategic roles, including Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development.
At the time of his passing, Ezea was the Vice Chairman of both the Senate Committee on
Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, and the Senate Committee on Culture and
Creative Economy.
The late Distinguished Senator’s legislative record was defined by purposeful and impactful contributions.
For instance, he sponsored the bill to establish the Federal College of Agriculture, Adani, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, and championed the bill for the creation of Adada State, a legacy bill he pursued with unwavering commitment until his illness.
He also moved several motions on the Senate floor, notably the motion calling for
the establishment of a military base in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State to
curb the persistent attacks and killings by rampaging herdsmen.
Before contesting and winning the Enugu North Senate seat in 2023 on the platform of the Labour Party, Senator Ezea had been a founding member of the APC and played a pivotal role in building the party’s foundation in Enugu State in 2013.
He was a three-time governorship contender – first in 2007 and 2011 under the Labour Party, and again in 2015 under the APC.
His victory in 2023 where he defeated an incumbent governor to win the senate, was a defining milestone in his political journey.
Beyond elective politics, Senator Ezea held notable national appointments, including his
tenure as Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, Taraba State.
Until his passing, he remained the only federal lawmaker from Enugu State elected on the
Labour Party platform in 2023 who, on principle, refused to defect to the ruling party – standing
firm against the pressure to ditch the party that sponsored him to the senate.
Senator Okey Ezea is survived by his wife, Chioma, and four children.
“As we mourn this painful loss, we respectfully request prayers for the family during this difficult
time,” Jideofor Ezea surmised. .
