The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of its chairman, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon.
Solomon reportedly slumped on Friday during a party peace and reconciliation meeting at Iyara Town Hall, the headquarters of Ijumu Local Government Area.
Sources at the meeting said the party leader suddenly collapsed while discussions were ongoing, causing panic among political leaders and delegates.
He was immediately given first aid and taken to a medical facility in nearby Kabba, where he was later pronounced dead.
The meeting was organised by Funsho Olumoko, a former chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, following a mandate from the Ijumu Consultative Forum to help resolve disagreements among APC stakeholders.
The meeting brought together party leaders, local government and ward executives, women and youth leaders, as well as government appointees from the 15 wards in Ijumu.
The reconciliation effort was aimed at settling internal disputes and strengthening unity within the party ahead of future political activities and the 2027 elections.
It followed an earlier meeting in Iyara where APC stakeholders endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for second terms. That meeting reportedly ended with disagreements over local government leadership, leading to a walkout by Solomon and some government officials.
Solomon’s death has now cast uncertainty over the reconciliation process and left APC members in Ijumu and Kogi West mourning.
The exact cause of his death has not been officially disclosed.
As of press time, there was no official statement from the APC leadership in Kogi State or the local government authorities on the incident.
Oyewole Mayowa Solomon
