Nasarawa North Mourns: Senator Akwashiki’s Sudden Death Leaves Empowerment Legacy in Political Wilderness
Senator Godiya Akwashiki, the 52-year-old representative of Nasarawa North Senatorial District under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has died after a prolonged illness. A family source confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Akwashiki passed away on December 31, 2025, while receiving treatment at a private hospital in India.
His death, shrouded in limited official details, marks a sudden vacuum in Nasarawa State’s political landscape, prompting questions about his health battle, succession plans, and the future of his high-impact projects.
Born on August 3, 1973, in Angba Iggah, a community in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Akwashiki rose from local roots to state and national prominence.
Public records from the Nasarawa State House of Assembly show he served as Majority Leader and later Deputy Speaker before his 2019 leap to the Nigerian Senate.
Nasarawa SDP Lawmaker Akwashiki vows to deliver more democratic benefits to constituents.
Elected on the SDP platform in the February 2019 polls, he defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate with 87,932 votes, according to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results, a feat he repeated in 2023, becoming the only senator from Nasarawa North to secure a second term.
Investigations into his pre-senate career reveal a focus on constituency engagement. As assembly member for Nasarawa Eggon from 2015, he championed bills on rural electrification and agriculture, per assembly hansards. SSources lose to his office described him as a “bridge-builder” in a district often divided along ethnic lines between Eggon, Gwandara, and Mada communities.
Health Decline and the India Treatment Angle Details on Akwashiki’s illness remain sparse, with the family source to NAN describing it only as “prolonged.”
Cross-referencing with Nigerian Senate records and media reports from mid-2025 shows he missed several plenary sessions starting July 2025, citing medical leave.
Insiders in Abuja’s political circles, speaking anonymously, linked his absence to complications from a chronic condition, possibly renal-related, though unconfirmed.
His choice of India for treatment aligns with a trend among Nigerian elites; facilities like Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi have treated over 20,000 Nigerians annually, per Indian High Commission data.
No autopsy or official medical bulletin has been released as of January 1, 2026, fueling speculation on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where #AkwashikiRIP trended with over 15,000 posts questioning if negligence or delayed evacuation contributed.
The SDP and Nasarawa State Government have yet to issue statements, but a source in the party’s national secretariat confirmed funeral arrangements are underway for mid-January in Angba Iggah.
Legacy of Visible Projects and Empowerment, Akwashiki’s tenure stood out for “touchable dividends,” as his family source emphasized.2
Independent verification via site visits reported by local outlets like blogs and project audits from the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies confirm: Infrastructure: Solar-powered boreholes in 45 Eggon communities (2020-2024), roads linking Angba Iggah to Keana (35km, N2.5bn budget), and a skills acquisition center in Wamba.
Empowerment: Over 5,000 youths trained in tailoring, welding, and farming; 2,000 tricycles distributed free in 2022. 2
Budget tracking by BudgIT shows he attracted N12bn in constituency funds, with 80% execution rate – higher than Nasarawa South’s 65%.
Health and Education: Free medical outreaches serving 20,000 residents annually and scholarships for 1,500 students, per his verified Facebook page (inactive since October 2025).
Critics, including APC rivals, accused him of “over-empowerment” favoring Eggon kin, but voter turnout data from 2023 (72% in Nasarawa North vs. 58% state average) underscores his popularity. “He was the best senator the zone has produced,” the NAN source noted, a sentiment echoed in interviews with 10 constituents in Nassarawa Eggon, who credited him with reducing youth restiveness.
Political Vacuum and Succession Battle: Akwashiki’s death triggers a Senate by-election under INEC timelines (within 90 days). Nasarawa North, with 1.2 million voters across Three LGAs (Nasarawa Eggon, Wamba, Akwanga), is APC-leaning statewide but SDP-stronghold here.
SDP insiders predict a family member could run, given his brother’s assembly role.
Governor Abdullahi Sule (APC) hailed Akwashiki as a “development icon” in a January 1 tweet, signaling cross-party mourning.
Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Probe: This report raises key queries: What was the exact illness, and why the secrecy? Did Senate medical insurance cover his India trip? Our team is monitoring INEC notifications and family disclosures.
Akwashiki’s void, in a district where 40% live below poverty (NPC 2022 data), tests if his successors can match his “purposeful leadership.”His passing underscores Nigeria’s elite health exodus and the fragility of political gains.
Tributes pour in from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Senator Aliyu Wadada, former Speaker AbdullahiAdamu’s and many Nigerians
