UPDATED: Ministerial nominee, Balarabe slumps at Senate

A ministerial nominee, Abass Lawal Balarabe slumped during screening at the Senate on Wednesday.

The nominee, while answering questions, suddenly collapsed while standing at the podium.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio immediately called for a doctor to attend to him and directed that the Senate resolves into an executive session.

The Senate later confirmed the Kaduna State nominee after he was revived at the National Assembly Clinic.

The Senate also confirmed the duo of Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and Ayodele Olawande who were nominated as Minister of Youths and Minister of State for Youths, respectively.

There was pandemonium earlier in the Senate when the nominee who replaced Nasir El-Rufai suddenly collapsed during his screening on Wednesday.

Balarabe, the second nominee to undergo screening after Ibrahim, had just finished sharing his experiences when the incident occurred, approximately 15 minutes into his screening at the Senate plenary.

While the Kaduna South senator, Sunday Katung, was discussing Balarabe’s administrative background, the nominee suddenly slumped while still on the podium.

After presenting his profile to the senators, Balarabe received an endorsement from the Kaduna lawmaker, who stated that all three senators from the state gave validation to his nomination.

Katung was interrupted when Senate President Godswill Akpabio shouted, “Bring water and sugar. Call Dr. Musa.”

Akpabio instructed journalists and cameramen to stop filming and leave the Senate chamber.

The nominee was later taken to the National Assembly clinic.

The Senate then resumed after about a 45-minute break and thereafter the three nominees were confirmed.