A political reconciliation meeting in Kogi State ended in shock on Friday after the APC chairman in Ijumu Local Government Area, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, suddenly collapsed and died.
Solomon reportedly became unresponsive while a peace and reconciliation session was underway at Iyara Town Hall, the headquarters of Ijumu LGA.
His cause of death had not been established when the report was filed.
Solomon Collapses During Meeting
According to people familiar with the gathering, Solomon suddenly slumped during the proceedings, leaving party leaders and delegates scrambling to respond.
Those present reportedly attempted to provide immediate assistance before taking him to a medical facility in neighbouring Kabba.
He was pronounced dead shortly after reaching the hospital.
The sudden incident brought the reconciliation effort to an abrupt and tragic end.
Meeting Was Designed to End Party Disputes
The gathering had been organised by Funsho Olumoko, a former Ijumu council chairman recently mandated by the Ijumu Consultative Forum to help reconcile competing political interests in the area.
The broader objective was to:
- Resolve disagreements among party stakeholders.
- Reconcile rival political factions.
- Strengthen cooperation within the APC.
- Build greater unity ahead of future political activities.
The initiative came after an earlier stakeholders’ meeting in Iyara, where APC members reportedly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to seek second terms.
That earlier gathering, however, was not without controversy.
Earlier Disagreement Had Deepened Tensions
The endorsement meeting reportedly became contentious over issues surrounding local government leadership.
Solomon and several senior government officials subsequently walked out of the meeting, underscoring the divisions that the latest reconciliation effort was intended to address.
Friday’s session therefore brought together a broader group of stakeholders, including local government and ward executives, women and youth representatives, government appointees, and political leaders from all 15 wards in Ijumu.
The goal was simple: find common ground before existing disagreements became a larger political problem.
Death Creates New Uncertainty
Solomon’s death now casts a shadow over those efforts.
His passing could complicate ongoing attempts to consolidate the APC’s position in Kogi West ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly as the party continues to navigate internal disagreements.
For now, however, the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
As of the time of filing, neither the APC state leadership nor the relevant local authorities had issued an official statement confirming the circumstances of Solomon’s death.
