Grief In The House: Lawmaker’s Death Sparks Tributes And Reactions Nationwide

Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, the member representing Kwami/Funakaye/Gombe Federal Constituency of Gombe State in the House of Representatives, has passed away.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Tongo, who was elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2023 general elections, later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2026.

His death was announced on Friday by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, through a post on his verified X account.

“We have lost our representative for Gombe, Kwami and Funakaye, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo. He passed away today, Friday, June 12, 2026,” Pantami wrote.

According to the former minister, he visited the lawmaker earlier in the day at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja, where Tongo was receiving medical treatment.

Pantami said he visited the hospital alongside Alhaji Bappa Ahmad Abdullahi and other associates between 3:30 p.m. and 3:50 p.m., during which they prayed for the ailing legislator. He added that he met some of Tongo’s family members, including two of his children, who accompanied him to the hospital room.

Reflecting on the visit, Pantami revealed that he became deeply concerned after observing the lawmaker’s condition.

“Since leaving the hospital, I have been deeply worried because of the condition I saw him in. Even to a layman like me, his health condition was clearly critical. However, we always put our trust in Allah, the Almighty God,” he stated.

He further disclosed that he received news of Tongo’s death only a few hours after leaving the hospital.

“We have lost one of our own. However, passing away on a Friday carries its own spiritual blessing,” Pantami said.

The former minister also referenced a saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad, noting that believers who die on a Friday are granted special mercy and protection by Allah.

Pantami prayed for the deceased, asking Allah to forgive his shortcomings, grant him eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus, and comfort his family during this difficult period.

As of the time of filing this report, the leadership of the House of Representatives had not issued an official statement regarding the lawmaker’s passing.

Tongo was elected into the 10th National Assembly in 2023 and served as the representative of Kwami/Funakaye/Gombe Federal Constituency until his death.