By News Desk
LOKOJA, Nigeria — The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was thrown into mourning on Friday following the sudden death of its local government party chairman, Hon. Oyewole Mayowa Solomon.
Solomon collapsed during a peace and reconciliation meeting held at the Iyara Town Hall, the administrative headquarters of the local government area, and was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to a hospital in neighboring Kabba.
Incident at the Iyara Town Hall Gathering
According to delegates and eye-witnesses, the peace session was actively underway when the party chieftain suddenly collapsed, throwing the venue into confusion and panic:
- Sudden Collapse: Solomon fell ill mid-proceedings as stakeholders gathered to resolve internal leadership disagreements within the local party branch.
- Hospital Evacuation: Attendees attempted immediate first aid before transporting him to a medical facility in Kabba, where attending medical personnel confirmed his death shortly after arrival.
- Cause Undisclosed: As of press time, the medical cause of his sudden collapse has not been officially disclosed by family members or medical authorities.
Background on Party Reconciliation Efforts
The gathering was convened by Hon. Funsho Olumoko, a former Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, who was tasked by the Ijumu Consultative Forum to harmonize political interests and resolve lingering intra-party friction:
- Previous Disputes: The meeting followed an earlier August stakeholder gathering in Iyara where disagreements over local executive structures led to a walkout by Solomon and several government functionaries.
- Broad Participation: Friday’s peace session had convened ward executives, women and youth leaders, and political appointees across all 15 wards of Ijumu LGA to build a unified party front.
- Political Repercussions: Party leaders across Kogi West expressed shock over the development, noting that Solomon’s passing presents a major setback to ongoing reconciliation frameworks within the council area.
