Funminiyi Afuye, the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, fell away at the age of 66.
Afuye, the representative for Ikere Constituency 1, is said to have passed away yesterday evening at the hospital where he was being treated for a cardiac arrest.
Afuye reportedly joined Governor Biodun Oyebanji to examine subpar food in the Basiri neighbourhood of Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday before the unexpected turn of events. Afuye also reportedly attended the inauguration of the governor on Sunday.
According to reports, the speaker was getting ready for his son's wedding, which will take place this weekend in Lagos.
The deputy speaker verified Afuye's passing in a phone conversation with our correspondent in Ado-Ekiti.
He said: “It’s sad we have lost the speaker. He died this evening. I can’t tell you more than that. The government and the assembly are going to issue a statement to that effect soon.”
Another member of the assembly said the speaker was rushed to hospital yesterday after he suddenly developed complications over an undisclosed ailment.
The lawmaker said Afuye, a lawyer, died after attempts by doctors to save his life failed.
“This incident is shocking. Rt Hon Afuye was at the House of Assembly yesterday (Tuesday). So his death was devastating to us. It was a rude shock.
“We learnt he developed sudden complications this morning and was rushed to hospital where he died.”
Afuye hailed from Ikere-Ekiti in Ikere Local Government. He was first elected into the assembly in 2007 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC) when the 26 seats in the house were shared at 13-13 each by his party and the Peoples Democratic Party.