The family of Senator Okey Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, has officially announced his passing in a statement titled “Notification of the Death of Senator Okey Ezea.”
In the statement, his son, Jideofor Ezea, revealed that the senator died on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at about 11:07 p.m. in a private hospital in Lagos after a brief illness. Initial reports said he died abroad.
“With profound grief, the family of Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, announces his passing,” Jideofor wrote. The late senator is survived by his wife, Chioma, and four children.
The family stressed Senator Ezea’s unshakable loyalty to the Labour Party, describing it as a defining feature of his political life. They emphasized that even when other lawmakers from Enugu State defected to the ruling party, Senator Ezea “remained steadfast in his principles,” refusing to abandon the platform on which he was elected.
The statement noted his significant impact within the National Assembly, where he was deeply involved in legislative activities. Senator Ezea initially chaired the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions and later served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development. Until his passing, he also held vice-chairmanship positions in the Senate Committees on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, as well as Culture and Creative Economy.
He sponsored several notable bills and motions, including the bill establishing the Federal College of Agriculture, Adani, and a motion calling for the creation of a military base in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State to curb persistent attacks by armed herdsmen.
Beyond his legislative contributions, Senator Ezea’s political career spanned decades. A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he helped build the party’s structure in Enugu State in 2013. He contested the Enugu governorship election three times: twice under the Labour Party in 2007 and 2011, and again in 2015 under the APC. His 2023 election to the Senate on the platform of the Labour Party—where he defeated an incumbent governor—was widely regarded as a major political upset.
He also previously served as Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, in Taraba State.
“As the family mourns this immense loss, we request prayers and support during this difficult time,” the statement concluded.
