A member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Yaya Bauchi Tongo, has died. He represented the Kwami/Funakaye/Gombe Federal Constituency of Gombe State.

Tongo was first elected in 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in March 2026.

His death was announced on Friday, June 12, 2026, by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, via his verified X handle.

Pantami revealed that he had visited the lawmaker earlier that day at Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, where Tongo was receiving treatment. He said he prayed for him between 3:30 pm and 3:50 pm, meeting with his friend, two of his children, and other relatives.

“Even to a layman like me, his health condition was clearly critical,” Pantami wrote. “A few hours later, I received news of his passing.”

Pantami noted that passing away on a Friday carries spiritual significance in Islam, referencing a saying of Prophet Muhammad that believers who die on a Friday are protected from the trial of the grave. He prayed for Tongo’s eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus.

As of the time of this report, the House of Representatives leadership had not yet released an official statement.