The Enugu State Caucus in the House of Representatives has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the sudden passing of Senator Okey Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District.

In a statement made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Wednesday which was signed by the Caucus Leader, Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, the lawmakers described Senator Ezea’s death as a tragic and heartbreaking loss, noting that he was a vibrant and dedicated member of the 10th Senate.

The caucus noted that his passing is a major setback for Enugu State and the Southeast region, especially in light of the ongoing advocacy for the creation of Adada State, an effort in which Senator Ezea played a prominent and passionate role.

“We acknowledge Senator Ezea’s unwavering dedication and his immense contributions to the development of Enugu State,” the statement read, emphasizing that his death has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

The caucus extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of the late senator, the people of Enugu North Senatorial District, the Nigerian Senate, and the Enugu State Government.

New details have emerged regarding the death of Senator Okey Ezea, the lawmaker representing Enugu North Senatorial District, who passed away in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to close family sources, Senator Ezea died from complications that followed a surgical amputation of one of his legs.

The late senator, popularly known as Ideke, had reportedly been battling diabetes for several years.

He recently returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom and was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Lagos when his condition deteriorated.

Family insiders revealed that doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs in an attempt to save his life after complications from diabetes worsened.

“The doctors had already amputated his leg due to severe complications,” a family source disclosed.

“They were in the process of performing a skin graft to cover the amputated area when he suddenly passed away.”

Senator Ezea’s death has thrown Enugu North and the wider political community into mourning, given his long-standing influence and commitment to public service.

A key figure in contemporary Enugu politics, Okey Ezea was one of the co-founders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State in 2013.

He later became the party’s governorship candidate in 2015, carving a reputation as a bold and outspoken political voice.

In 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, where he served until 2022.

That same year, he resigned and joined the Labour Party (LP). He emerged the party’s candidate for Enugu North Senatorial District and went on to win the election held on February 25, 2023.

The Nigeria Police Force has shut down the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, following a tense standoff between rival factions that attempted to take control of the party headquarters on Wednesday morning.

The closure comes less than 24 hours after heightened tension was recorded around the complex, where supporters of the two opposing blocs, led by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former Minister Tanimu Turaki, mobilised for separate meetings in a bid to assert dominance over the party structure.

A video obtained by DAILY GAZETTE showed police operatives mounting heavy barricades and rolls of barbed wire across the entrance to prevent access to the building.

Security officials were also seen stationed across adjoining streets to forestall any outbreak of violence.

Sources said the decision to seal the secretariat was taken to avert a potential clash, after reports indicated that both factions were mobilising supporters and musicians to the venue early Wednesday, causing panic among nearby residents and businesses.

Earlier, DAILY GAZETTE reported a massive deployment of police officers, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and civil defence personnel around Zone 5, where the secretariat is located.

Supporters of both groups were seen chanting, dancing, and displaying banners as they attempted to occupy strategic positions near the plaza.

The developing crisis follows renewed internal battles over party leadership and control, with both factions planning parallel meetings at the same venue.

The police are yet to issue an official statement on when the secretariat will be reopened.

Details shortly…

Former Kano State governor and leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has raised alarm over the renewed surge in insecurity across the country, urging the Federal Government to respond decisively as violent attacks and kidnappings intensify in several states.

In a statement shared on X, Kwankwaso warned that Nigeria is entering a dangerous phase of instability, pointing to a string of recent incidents that reveal deep cracks in the nation’s security architecture.

He condemned the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, describing it as a painful reminder of past mass kidnappings that traumatised the country and attracted global outcry.

According to him, the attack mirrors a growing trend in northern Nigeria, where criminal groups increasingly target students for ransom or leverage.

Kwankwaso also lamented the killing of Brigadier-General M. Uba during an ambush by terrorists in Borno State, calling it one of the most devastating blows to Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts in recent years.

He said the death of such a senior military officer signalled a serious intelligence lapse and called for an immediate probe to restore confidence within the armed forces.

He further cited ongoing mass abductions in Zamfara State, where armed groups continue to raid rural communities, as evidence that criminal networks remain firmly entrenched despite repeated military operations and negotiations by local governments.

The former defence minister added that the uptick in attacks in Shanono and Ghari local government areas of Kano State proves that insecurity is now spreading beyond historically troubled regions into areas once considered relatively stable.

While he commended the Kano State Government for providing operational vehicles to security agencies, Kwankwaso stressed that such efforts would be insufficient without stronger federal intervention.

He reminded the government of its constitutional responsibility to protect citizens, insisting that the recent incidents reflect “clear setbacks in the fight against insecurity.”

Kwankwaso reiterated the need for increased investment in the armed forces and enhanced support for the Nigeria Police Force, noting that many frontline units are overstretched, under-equipped, and lack timely intelligence needed to prevent or effectively respond to attacks.

With Nigeria confronting multiple security challenges, from jihadist insurgents in the northeast to bandit groups in the northwest and separatist movements in the southeast, Kwankwaso warned that continued failures could further erode public trust and deepen the suffering of already vulnerable communities.

He urged the government to act swiftly and decisively to stem the rising wave of violence.