The Nigerian Senate is set to convene a special session on Wednesday to pay tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away recently in London.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the development during plenary on Tuesday, noting that the session will offer an opportunity to reflect on Buhari’s legacy and his contributions to Nigeria’s political development.
“This chamber will hold a special session tomorrow to honour the memory and leadership of the late President Muhammadu Buhari,” Akpabio said. “His impact on Nigeria’s democratic journey and national unity deserves sober reflection and recognition.”
Buhari, who died on 13 July 2025 in the United Kingdom after a prolonged illness, was laid to rest last week in Daura, Katsina State. His burial ceremony drew attendance from top government officials, dignitaries, and political allies from across the country and beyond.
A few days earlier, the Federal Executive Council had also organised a solemn session in his honour. During the gathering, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described Buhari as “a man who led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint.”
Buhari, a retired army general, was elected President in 2015 and re-elected in 2019. Prior to that, he served as Nigeria’s Head of State between 1983 and 1985 following a military coup. Over the decades, he remained a central figure in Nigeria’s military and political history.
Meanwhile, the Senate used Tuesday’s sitting to dispel widespread reports claiming that new states had been approved by the federal legislature.
Senate President Akpabio debunked the reports, stating that while the Constitution Review Committee had received several proposals for state creation, none had gone through the rigorous stages required for approval.
“I have seen over 42 proposals, but not one has gone through full deliberation,” Akpabio said. “The process of creating a state is very rigorous and has not been completed in any instance.”
The clarification followed concerns raised by Senator Abdul Ningi over viral reports that the Senate had approved new states, prompting some communities to begin holding meetings in anticipation.
