The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Aliyu Ezzu, has confirmed the death of the party’s chairman in Ijumu Local Government Area, Oyewole Solomon, following a reconciliation meeting in the area.
Ezzu confirmed Solomon’s death in a condolence message on Friday, describing the late party chairman as a committed party member whose contributions to the growth and unity of the APC in Ijumu Local Government Area would not be forgotten.
Solomon reportedly slumped during a party reconciliation meeting held in Iyara, the headquarters of Ijumu LGA, on Friday.
His death was subsequently confirmed by the Kogi APC chairman, who expressed deep sorrow over the loss and commiserated with Governor Usman Ododo, the people of Ijumu Local Government Area, the deceased’s family, friends and members of the APC.
“His sudden death has sent shock and sadness across the APC family in Ijumu Local Government and Kogi State,” the statement issued on behalf of Ezzu read.
The Kogi APC chairman described Solomon as a committed party leader who contributed to the growth and unity of the party in the local government.
He prayed to God to grant the deceased’s family and the entire APC family the strength to bear the loss.
Ezzu also urged party members and supporters to remain calm and united during the period of mourning.
The circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death were earlier reported by AIT Online, which said the APC chairman slumped while a reconciliation meeting was ongoing at the Iyara Town Hall.
According to the report, confusion and panic followed his sudden collapse among political leaders and delegates present at the meeting.
Solomon was reportedly rushed to a medical facility in neighbouring Kabba, where he was pronounced dead.
The exact cause of his death has yet to be officially disclosed.
The reconciliation meeting was said to have been convened to harmonise political interests, reconcile factions, resolve internal disagreements and foster unity among APC stakeholders in Ijumu ahead of future political activities.
According to AIT Online, the initiative was convened by a former chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Funsho Olumoko, following a mandate from the Ijumu Consultative Forum.
The reconciliation effort reportedly followed an earlier meeting in Iyara where APC stakeholders in the local government endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ododo for their second terms.
However, a previous session of the meeting was reportedly marred by disagreements over local government leadership, leading to a walkout by Solomon and some government officials.
Friday’s meeting was therefore said to have been convened to bridge the divisions and bring together selected political leaders, local government and ward executives, women and youth leaders, as well as government appointees from the 15 wards of Ijumu Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the APC executives in Ijumu LGA have also mourned the late party chairman.
In a condolence message signed by the party’s General Secretary, Joshua Oshatoba, the executives described Solomon’s death as sudden, painful and devastating.
“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 message read.
The local party executives said his death was a great loss not only to his immediate family but also to the APC, Ijumu Local Government and the entire Ijumu community.
They added that Solomon died while actively serving the party and working towards future political activities.
“Though words are inadequate to express the pain in our hearts, we take solace in the legacy of service, commitment, and sacrifice he leaves behind,” the executives said.
Also mourning the late APC chairman, the member representing Ijumu Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Omotayo Ishaya, described his death as a painful and irreparable loss.
She said Solomon was a committed party man and brother whose contributions to the political development and unity of Ijumu would not be forgotten.
She added that his death was a profound loss to his immediate family, the APC family, the people of Ogale Aduge and the entire Ijumu Constituency.
The death of Solomon has thrown the political community in Ijumu into mourning, coming amid efforts to reconcile factions and resolve internal disagreements within the APC in the local government area.
Further details on the circumstances surrounding his death are still being awaited from relevant authorities.