{"id":878765,"date":"2025-12-18T23:28:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T05:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/18\/tribute-okey-ezea-retired-customs-officer-who-defeated-incumbent-governor-became-senator\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T23:28:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T05:28:01","slug":"tribute-okey-ezea-retired-customs-officer-who-defeated-incumbent-governor-became-senator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/18\/tribute-okey-ezea-retired-customs-officer-who-defeated-incumbent-governor-became-senator\/","title":{"rendered":"TRIBUTE: Okey Ezea, Retired Customs Officer Who Defeated Incumbent Governor, Became Senator"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

On November 19, 2025, news broke out of the sudden demise of the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial district.<\/p>\n

Senator Okey Ezea<\/a> was said to have passed away on November 18, 2025 in a private hospital in Lagos state.<\/p>\n

In a statement released by his son Jideofor Ezea entitled \u201cNotification of the Death of Senator Okey Ezea,\u201d the lawmaker died at about 11:07pm on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in a private hospital in Lagos after a brief illness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith profound grief, the family of Distinguished Senator Okey Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate, announces his passing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that the late senator is survived by his wife, Chioma, and four children.<\/p>\n

However, following the announcement of his death, the entire senatorial zone<\/a> has been thrown into mourning and deep grief.<\/p>\n

Early life and education<\/strong><\/p>\n

Okechukwu Ezea was born on 11 August 1963 in\u00a0Enugu State, Nigeria, to Theresa (n\u00e9e Attamah) and James Ezea from\u00a0Enugu State.<\/p>\n

The late Senator Ezea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He attended Community Primary School, Umachi in\u00a0Enugu-Ezike, and Nsukka High School in\u00a0Nsukka\u00a0for his primary and secondary education respectively. Ezea proceeded to the\u00a0University of Nigeria, Nsukka\u00a0where he studied political science, graduating with a BSc in 1986. Ezea also had his LL.B and LL.M in law from the\u00a0University of Lagos, Akoka.<\/p>\n

Civil service career<\/strong><\/p>\n

After his\u00a0National Youth Service Corps\u00a0service in September 1987, Ezea got employed into the\u00a0Nigerian Customs Service, where he worked as the Deputy Superintendent, until he retired in 1994.<\/p>\n

In same year, Ezea entered into a capitalist business and founded the Ideke Shipping Limited. Between 1995 and 2018, Ideke Shipping provided a number of intermodal logistics services. Ezea subsequently founded Ideke Engineering Limited, Ideke Overseas Limited, Damik Ventures Limited, and Damik Security Limited.<\/p>\n

He has also held notable national appointments, including serving as Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre<\/a>, Jalingo, Taraba State.<\/p>\n

Political Career<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ezea became a local politician while still in the\u00a0University of Nigeria, where he held school positions. In 2007, he became a full-time politician and contested as the candidate for\u00a0Labour Party\u00a0in the\u00a02007 Enugu State gubernatorial election. The result of the election was overturned after a court challenge and The Enugu State Governorship Election Tribunal.<\/p>\n

In 2013, Ezea co-founded part of the\u00a0All-Progressives Congress\u00a0in Enugu and he became the candidate in 2015. In 2018, Ezea was appointed by\u00a0Muhammadu Buhari\u00a0as the Chairman of the governing board, Federal Medical Centre in\u00a0Jalingo,\u00a0Taraba State, a position he held until he resigned in 2022 to join the Labour Party. On 25 February 2023, Ezea was elected as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where he represented\u00a0Enugu North Senatorial District.<\/p>\n

Positions held in the senate<\/strong><\/p>\n

Until his death, he also served as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, and the Senate Committee on Culture and Creative Economy.<\/p>\n

Bills sponsored<\/strong><\/p>\n

During his time in the senate, Ezea sponsored the bill for the establishment of the Federal College of Agriculture, Adani. He also championed the proposed creation of Adada State\u2014a legacy bill he pursued with unflinching commitment until his health challenges began to take a toll on him.<\/p>\n

Other motions he moved include, one calling for the establishment of a military base in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State to curb persistent attacks by armed herdsmen.<\/p>\n

He highlighted Senator Ezea\u2019s contributions in the National Assembly, noting that he was an \u201cactive and influential voice\u201d throughout his time in the 10th Senate. At the start of the legislative session, Ezea chaired the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, before assuming other key roles, including Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development.<\/p>\n

Apart from his National Assembly membership, before contesting and winning the Enugu North Senate seat in 2023 under the Labour Party, Ezea was a founding member of the APC and played a key role in building the party\u2019s structure in Enugu State in 2013.<\/p>\n

He also contested the governorship three times\u2014twice under the Labour Party in 2007 and 2011, and again in 2015 under the APC. His election to the Senate in 2023, in which he defeated an incumbent governor, was widely regarded as a major political upset.<\/p>\n

Obi, NASS, Kalu other mourn Sen. Ezea<\/strong><\/p>\n

The presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has described the death of Senator Okey Ezea as a monumental loss.<\/p>\n

In message in his X formerly known as Twitter, Obi stated that \u201cI have just received one of the most devastating pieces of news of my life: the death of someone I truly considered a very dear brother, a confidant, and a politician of commitment and character \u2014 Sen. Okey Ezea. \u201cWhat can I say about him? He was my senator, my confidant, my friend, and my brother. Sen. Ezea was a man of remarkable integrity, a man who did not betray friendship, and a man of deep compassion for his people. His presence inspired confidence, and his counsel was always wise and measured.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis passing leaves a huge personal void that cannot easily be filled. Okey would always remind one of the needs to do things for his people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the 10th Senate has formally announced the death of Ezea, describing him as very resourceful senator.<\/p>\n

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, referencing an earlier notice from the Ezea family.<\/p>\n

Adaramodu described the late lawmaker as a committed member of the Labour Party, under which he won the 2023 senatorial election, and an \u201cactive and influential voice\u201d in the Senate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Senate shares the grief of this unfortunate and tragic demise with his constituents in Enugu North<\/a>, Enugu State, Nigerians, and most especially the immediate family members,\u201d Adaramodu said, praying for \u201ca restful immortality\u201d for the departed lawmaker.<\/p>\n

Also in his tribute, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu<\/a> has described Senator Ezea as a brother.<\/p>\n

Sen. Kalu wrote that \u201cHis death is a painful blow that has left me personally devastated. Senator Ezea was more than a fellow legislator; he was a friend with whom I shared a close and sincere bond. Our friendship was built on mutual respect, brotherhood, and genuine affection.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur relationship extended far beyond the chambers of the Senate. With shared Catholic faith, we often celebrated Mass in the same Catholic chapel, lifting our voices to God in fellowship and reflection,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n

Kalu extended condolences to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and the deceased\u2019s constituents in Enugu North.<\/p>\n

Also, the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in a Facebook post, paid tribute, calling Ezea \u201cgentle, wise and quietly supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n

She recalled his prayers and encouragement during her difficult moments in the Senate.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, his burial arrangement is yet to be announced by his family.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On November 19, 2025, news broke out of the sudden demise of the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial district. Senator Okey Ezea was said to have passed away on November 18, 2025 in a private hospital in Lagos state. In a statement released by his son Jideofor Ezea entitled \u201cNotification of the Death of Senator<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":878766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,901],"tags":[5125,11187],"class_list":{"0":"post-878765","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-retired","8":"category-tribute","9":"tag-retired","10":"tag-tribute"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/878765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=878765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/878765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/878766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=878765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=878765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=878765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}