Godwin Akwaji, lawmaker representing Obudu constituency at the Cross River state House of Assembly, has died after showing symptoms of COVID-19.
He was said to have died at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) isolation centre around 12:30 pm on Thursday.
Akwaji, who was said to be diabetic, also exhibited fatigue, fever, cough, breathlessness.
A family source disclosed that the deceased had been treated for malaria and pneumonia with no improvement adding that some persons who visited the lawmaker at the hospital are already showing symptoms of COVID-19.
Cross River is the only state in Nigeria where no case of COVID-19 has been confirmed.
While Governor Ben Ayade’s government has insisted that there is no record of COVID-19 in the state, the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association has refuted the claims, saying that COVID-19 has been killing people in the state.
The group decried “the rising number of deaths from suspected cases in the state”, calling for action.
It also called for caution in allowing resumption of worship services.