Senate in Mourning: Senator Barinada Mpigi Passes Away at 64

​The Nigerian Senate has been plunged into grief following the sudden death of Senator Barinada Mpigi, the representative for the Rivers South-East Senatorial District. A powerhouse in the 10th National Assembly and Chairman of the influential Senate Committee on Works, Senator Mpigi passed away in the early hours of Thursday, February 19, 2026. He was 64 years old.

​A Somber Atmosphere in the Red Chamber

​The news reached the Senate during Thursday’s plenary session, halting scheduled budget defense meetings and casting a pall over the legislative house. The vacancy was officially noted by Senator Mohammed Onawo (Nasarawa South) during a session of the Committee on Culture and Tourism. Following the announcement, the Red Chamber observed a minute of silence, with colleagues describing his departure as a “monumental loss” to the federal republic.

​While official statements regarding the cause of death have not been released, sources close to the family indicate the Senator had been battling a brief but severe illness. Reports suggest he recently sought medical treatment abroad for health complications before succumbing early Thursday morning.

​Tributes from Rivers State and Beyond

​The news has triggered a wave of mourning across Rivers State. Governor Siminalayi Fubara expressed “deep shock and sadness,” hailing Mpigi as a “consummate politician and a leading light” for the people of Rivers.

​A native of Tai Local Government Area and a prominent figure within the Ogoni ethnic nationality, Mpigi was a formidable political strategist. He was widely recognized as a key ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, maintaining a career that seamlessly bridged grassroots activism with national policy-making.

​A Distinguished Legislative Career

​Senator Mpigi’s political trajectory was marked by consistency and influence. Before his election to the Senate in 2019, he served two terms in the House of Representatives (2011–2019), representing the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.

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​In the 10th Senate, his leadership of the Committee on Works placed him at the helm of Nigeria’s federal road infrastructure oversight. He previously served as the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service during the 9th Assembly, earning a reputation for legislative diligence.

​A Troubling Trend for the 10th Assembly

​The death of Senator Mpigi marks the fourth loss of a serving member since the 10th Senate’s inauguration in June 2023. He joins the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South), Senator Okey Ezea (Enugu North), and Senator Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa North) in a string of recent bereavements that have shaken the National Assembly.

​Senator Mpigi is survived by his family and a vast political network. Formal burial arrangements are expected to be announced by his family and the National Assembly leadership in due course.