APC Plateau lawmaker Afon dies after winning Saturday’s polls

Mr. Ezekiel Afon, a lawmaker representing Pengana Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly has died hours after he was re-elected to represent the constituency in last Saturday’s election. His death came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed his reelection into the state’s House of Assembly.

Bashir Sati, secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state confirmed the lawmaker’s death to newsmen on Sunday in Jos. According to Sati, Afon died Sunday afternoon after a brief illness.

“It is unfortunate that we lost Afon, one of the most dedicated members of our party and a committed lawmaker just after he was declared winner to occupy his seat again. Though he has been sick for a while but we received the news of his demise with rude shock,” he said.

Afon was first elected into the Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, but defected to the ruling APC in 2017.

The deceased hailed from Bassa Local Government Area of the state. Sunday Afon, his brother, confirmed the development to newsmen on Sunday.

“The deceased slumped in his house and died while celebrating his victory with family, friends and supporters on Sunday,” he said.

“He was confirmed dead at a hospital close to his house. He was 55 years old until his death,” he added.

Another family source said the lawmaker was deemed hale and hearty Sunday afternoon and was full of life while celebrating his election.

Afon, until his death, was the chief whip in the state assembly and is survived by his wife and four children.