The APC party chairman for Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, has died after collapsing during a reconciliation meeting held in Iyara, the headquarters of the local government.
Reports say Solomon fell on Friday during the meeting, where he was given first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Kabba, where his death was confirmed upon arrival.
The former chairman of Ijumu Local Government, Funsho Olumoko, organized the meeting to reconcile the party's feuding factions, resolve internal disagreements, and strengthen unity among APC members ahead of upcoming political activities.
Reports indicate that the first meeting ended without reaching a consensus, prompting the deceased, along with other party stalwarts and government officials, to walk out.
Friday's meeting was arranged to bring together political leaders, local government and ward party chairmen, women and youth leaders, as well as government appointees from all 15 wards of Ijumu.
Senator Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West, and Hon. Salman Idris, representing Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency in the House of Representatives, have expressed their sorrow over the party chairman's death.
They described Solomon as a dedicated, resilient, and skilled individual in uniting people at the grassroots level, stating that his contributions to the growth of the APC in Ijumu and Kogi West will be greatly missed.
Senator Karimi said the deceased was "a unifier, a peace-loving person, and a politician close to the people," adding that his death is a huge loss to his family, Ijumu, and the entire APC in Kogi State.
At the time of compiling this report, the Kogi State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, had not responded to inquiries sent to her regarding the incident.