A member of the House of Representatives representing Kwami/Funakaye/Gombe Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Yaya Tongo, has passed away.
Tongo, who was elected on the platform of 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, , 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 had visited the lawmaker earlier in the day at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja, where Tongo was receiving medical treatment.
“Today, along with Alhaji Bappa Ahmad Abdullahi and some colleagues, I visited Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, from 3:30pm to 3:50pm, where I prayed for him,” Pantami stated.
“I also met his friend, two of his children, and other relatives at the hospital. They received me and accompanied me to his room.”
Pantami said the lawmaker’s condition during the visit had left him deeply concerned.
“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 added.
He further revealed that news of Tongo’s death reached him just a few hours after he left the hospital.
“A few hours later, I received news of his passing at Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, today, Friday.
“We have lost one of our own. However, passing away on a Friday carries its own spiritual blessing,” he said.
Offering prayers for the deceased, Pantami referenced a saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad.
“The Prophet Muhammad said that ‘no believer passes away on Friday, or its night, but that Allah will protect him from the trial of the grave,’” he stated.
Pantami prayed for Allah to forgive the late lawmaker, grant him eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus, and comfort his family during the difficult period.
As of the time of filing this report, the leadership of the House of Representatives had not issued an official statement regarding Tongo’s death.
The late lawmaker represented Kwami/Funakaye/Gombe Federal Constituency and was among those elected into Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly in 2023.
