The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State is in mourning following the sudden death of Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, the party’s chairman in Ijumu Local Government Area, who reportedly slumped during a reconciliation meeting on Friday.
The Kogi APC chairman, Aliyu Ezzu, confirmed Solomon’s death in a condolence statement, describing him as a committed party member whose contributions to the growth and unity of the APC in Ijumu could not be forgotten. According to the statement, Solomon’s sudden passing “has sent shock and sadness across the APC family in Ijumu Local Government and Kogi State.”
What Happened at the Meeting
Solomon reportedly slumped while a party reconciliation meeting was ongoing at the Iyara Town Hall, the headquarters of Ijumu LGA. As widely reported, including by Punch, confusion and panic broke out among political leaders and delegates present when he collapsed. He was rushed to a medical facility in neighbouring Kabba, where he was pronounced dead. The exact cause of death has not been officially disclosed.
The reconciliation gathering was convened to harmonise political interests, resolve internal disagreements, and foster unity among APC stakeholders in Ijumu ahead of future political activities. It was organised by a former chairman of Ijumu LGA, Funsho Olumoko, following a mandate from the Ijumu Consultative Forum. This effort reportedly followed an earlier meeting in Iyara where APC stakeholders endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Usman Ododo for second terms. However, a previous session had reportedly been marred by disagreements over local government leadership, leading to a walkout by Solomon and some government officials — making Friday’s meeting an attempt to bridge those divisions among local government and ward executives, women and youth leaders, and government appointees from the 15 wards of the LGA.
Tributes Pour In
Ezzu commiserated with Governor Ododo, the people of Ijumu LGA, and Solomon’s family, friends, and party members, praying for God to grant them strength to bear the loss. He also urged party members and supporters to remain calm and united during the mourning period.
The APC executives in Ijumu LGA also mourned their late chairman in a condolence message signed by the party’s General Secretary, Joshua Oshatoba, describing his death as “sudden, painful and devastating.” The statement read in part: “The news of his passing has left us devastated and speechless. He was a committed party leader who served with dedication, courage, and a strong sense of responsibility.” The executives added that his death was a great loss not only to his immediate family but also to the APC.
Call for Medical Checks at Party Gatherings
Following the incident, Senator Adeyemi has reportedly called for medical checks to be conducted at APC gatherings, a development detailed by Vanguard, in what appears to be a response to the sudden nature of Solomon’s collapse and death.
As Ijumu APC members and Kogi residents continue to process the loss, tributes for the late chairman continue to pour in from across the party and the local government.