By Seyi Odewale
The senator representing Rivers South-East of Rivers State and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Barinada Mpigi, is dead.
Mpigi died at the age of 64 after a period of illness.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Culture, Arts, and Creative Economy, Ogoshi Onawo, announced Mpigi’s death on Wednesday during the budget defence session of the committee.
Members of the committee observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late lawmaker.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, who confirmed the development in a tribute posted on his X account, said: “Good night my dear friend. Rest in Peace, Senator Mpigi Barinada. Sen Mpigi represented Rivers South East in the Senate.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed deep shock and sadness over the sudden passage of Senator Barinada Mpigi, the Senator representing South East Senatorial District of Rivers State.
In a tribute to mourn the deceased, Governor Fubara described Mpigi as a brother, a consummate politician and one of the leading lights in Rivers State. He said Mpigi died at a critical time when his services were still needed by the people of Rivers State and prayed God Almighty to grant him eternal rest.
The governor commiserated with his immediate family, the Rivers South East Senatorial District and the Senate at large, asking them to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a good life and impacted positively on the people.
In recent months, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Rufai Hanga, had presided over several meetings of the committee, including budget defence sessions.
Mpigi was regarded as an influential political figure in Rivers State, noted for his grassroots network and engagement with constituents.
He was also known as a close ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Nyesom Wike.
Before his death, the late lawmaker was among senators from Rivers State who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2025.
Mpigi was first elected into the National Assembly in 2011, representing the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
