BREAKING: Wike Ally, Senator Barinada Mpigi Is Dead

Barinada Mpigi, the serving senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, has died at the age of 64, Allnews Nigeria reports.

Mpigi passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, after a period of illness, according to multiple sources within the National Assembly and his close associates. As of press time, the exact cause and location of his death have not been officially disclosed.

Born on June 23, 1961, Mpigi’s legislative career began in the House of Representatives, where he was first elected in 2011 to represent the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency and re-elected in 2016. In 2019, he won the Senate seat for Rivers South-East on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and served in both the 9th and 10th National Assemblies.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Mpigi played a key role in oversight of federal road and infrastructure projects. He also chaired a joint Senate committee during the Ninth Assembly tasked with investigating crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region  a pivotal issue in Nigeria’s economy.

Political leaders and colleagues have expressed shock and sadness at his passing, with tributes describing him as a committed representative and grassroots mobiliser.

His death marks a significant loss for Rivers State and the National Assembly, coming amid a series of recent deaths of sitting senators.

Further details and official statements from family or the Senate are awaited.