A legislator rooted in the grassroots
Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (born 9 December 1970) is a Nigerian politician, legislator and public servant serving as the Senator representing the Cross River North Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. First elected to the Senate in 2021 and re-elected in 2023, he previously served two terms in the House of Representatives for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency.
\nA grassroots politician raised in Ibil, Ogoja Local Government Area, Senator Jarigbe has built a reputation for advocacy on infrastructure, education, water supply and economic empowerment across the five local government areas of Cross River North — Ogoja, Yala, Obudu, Obanliku and Bekwarra. His legislative record spans both chambers of the National Assembly, where he has sponsored and supported bills and motions on education, security, environmental protection and national development.
Senator · Cross River North
Career Timeline
Born in Ogoja
Born on 9 December 1970 in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria.
Education
School of Basic Studies, Port Harcourt; B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Calabar; LL.B., Baze University, Abuja (2022).
House of Representatives
Elected to the House of Representatives for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency under the PDP — serving two terms in the 8th and 9th National Assemblies.
Senatorial by-election
Won the Cross River North Senatorial by-election of 5 December 2020, following the death of Senator Rose Oko. The result was contested and became the subject of prolonged litigation.
The Senate
The Court of Appeal declared him the duly elected senator and the Supreme Court affirmed the verdict in July 2021. He was sworn in on 15 September 2021 and resigned from the House of Representatives.
Re-election
Re-elected to the Senate in the 2023 general elections, defeating the sitting Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade — an upset that drew national attention.
Committee leadership
Chairs the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Gas) and sits on the Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) for the South-South zone.
APC
Resigned from the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing persistent and irreconcilable divisions within his former party.
2027 Mandate
Declared winner of the APC Cross River North Senatorial primary election on 18 May 2026.
From Ogoja to the Senate
Senator Jarigbe was born on 9 December 1970 and hails from Ibil in the Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State. Growing up in Cross River North, he developed a strong connection to the needs and aspirations of the people of the region.
\nHe attended the School of Basic Studies in Port Harcourt, where he obtained his West African Senior School Certificate in 1990, before proceeding to the University of Calabar, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2004. He later expanded his professional qualifications by earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Baze University, Abuja, in 2022 — further strengthening his understanding of governance, legislation and public administration.
\nBefore entering elective office, he worked in the private sector as Managing Director of Laja Enterprises Limited, served on the executive committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, and was appointed Chairman of SURE-P in Cross River State.
Service above self
Senator Jarigbe was elected to both the House of Representatives and the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In October 2025 he resigned from the PDP and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing persistent and irreconcilable divisions within the PDP at both the national and state levels as the reason for his departure.
\nHe is married to Offiong Jarigbe and has four children. Outside his political responsibilities, he remains committed to community development and maintaining strong connections with the people of Cross River North.
Honours & Milestones
Most Outstanding Senator (2024)
Cross River Most Outstanding Senator of the Year, awarded by the Yala Achievers Summit & Award at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Supreme Court Affirmation
Declared duly elected by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, July 2021.
Scholarship Programme
Annual educational support, WAEC/JAMB fee assistance and bursary awards for indigent students across Cross River North.
UN Global Peace & Humanitarian Award (2022)
Global Peace and Humanitarian Award in recognition of humanitarian service.
Icon of Humanitarian Service (2019)
ICON of Humanitarian Service Award (2019); Legislator of the Year (2020) by African Custodian; ICON of Nation Building Award (2021).
Committee leadership & legislation
In the Senate, Senator Jarigbe chairs the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Gas), providing legislative and oversight leadership over Nigeria’s gas policy, regulation and sector development. He also serves as a member of the Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), representing the South-South geopolitical zone.
\nHis bills and motions include the Federal University of Education, Katsina-Ala (Establishment) Bill; the Federal College of Education, Obudu (Establishment) Bill; the National Youth Service Corps (Amendment) Bill; and the Nigerian Institute of Public Health Bill. He has moved motions on the Cross River–Benue boundary dispute, gully erosion and ecological challenges, insecurity in border communities, the rehabilitation of federal roads, and the revitalisation of the Obudu Mountain Resort.
Chairman, Petroleum Resources (Gas)
Legislative and oversight leadership of Nigeria’s gas sector.
NILDS Governing Council
Representing the South-South geopolitical zone.
See the work in motion
Track constituency projects across the five LGAs of Cross River North.