Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Peter Azi, is dead.
Azi died on Thursday, August 13, 2026, according to a member of his family who confirmed the development to newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The former lawmaker was said to have died peacefully. However, the family has not disclosed the cause of his death.
The family member, John Azi, announced the death while speaking with journalists in Jos.
He said: “With total submission to the will of God Almighty, the Azi Ajang family announces the passing unto glory of their son, brother and father, Mr Peter Azi, the former Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly
“He peacefully joined his creator today, August 13.
The announcement has brought an end to the life of a politician who spent several years in Plateau State’s legislative affairs.
Azi represented Jos North-West Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly. He later became Speaker of the eighth Assembly after emerging as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He assumed the leadership of the House in June 2015 and remained in the position until July 2018, when he was removed by his colleagues.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had 13 lawmakers, while the APC had 11 members. Despite the APC being in the minority, Azi emerged Speaker after the PDP candidate stepped down.
Azi was elected unopposed after Istifanus Mwansat, who had initially been nominated by the PDP, withdrew from the contest.
The development allowed the Assembly to proceed with the inauguration of its principal officers after an earlier delay.
During his time as Speaker, Azi was involved in several issues affecting governance and security in Plateau State.
He spoke regularly on the need to address violent attacks in communities across the state. He also pushed for stronger legislative institutions and greater independence for state Houses of Assembly.
In June 2017, Azi called for financial autonomy for state legislatures.
He argued that the dependence of state legislatures on governors for funding weakened their ability to perform their constitutional responsibilities.
“The legislative arm is mostly constrained in performing some of its functions because it is at the mercy of the executive to release funds for it.
“This is why we have been agitating and yearning for autonomy, especially in terms of finances to enable the legislature perform its duties effectively.”
His tenure also coincided with a period of serious security challenges in Plateau State.
Politics Nigeria recalls that Azi’s exit from the Speakership in 2018 came after months of political tension within the Plateau State House of Assembly.
On July 11, 2018, lawmakers removed him from office during a dramatic sitting in Jos.
The motion leading to his removal was based on a vote of no confidence. The action also affected the then Majority Leader, Henry Yunkwap, who was removed from his position on the same day.
Azi, however, did not publicly express bitterness over his removal.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria on July 11, 2018, shortly after he was impeached, he said he had no regrets about losing the position.
“As we speak, I don’t have any regrets over my removal as Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly.”
He described the development as part of the political process and accepted the decision of his colleagues.
“To me, the removal is just a part of the legislative dynamism, which I should gladly accept as it helps in shaping our democracy.”
Azi also said his removal would give him more time to concentrate on his constituency.
“In fact, I now feel relieved because now I have time to parley with people in my own constituency, because, then as the Speaker, I took the entire state as my constituency.”
Earlier in July 2018, the Assembly had approved an extension of the tenure of transition committee chairmen in 15 of the state’s 17 local government areas.
Azi had announced the decision on the floor of the House.
“By this voice vote, the House has approved the extension of the TICs tenure in 15 out of the 17 local government areas of the state by one month,” he said.
The decision reportedly caused disagreements among lawmakers.
The House later moved against Azi, with 17 lawmakers signing the impeachment notice.
Joshua Madaki subsequently emerged as his replacement.
Following his removal, Madaki acknowledged Azi’s contribution to the Assembly and called on him to support the new leadership.
