Kogi APC Chairman Slumps, Dies During Peace Meeting; Adeyemi Demands Mandatory Medical Screening for Politicians

The political atmosphere in Kogi State has been thrown into deep mourning following the sudden and tragic demise of Hon. Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijumu Local Government Area. According to reports, the energetic party chieftain reportedly slumped and died during a high-stakes reconciliation meeting in Iyara, the administrative headquarters of the local government. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the ruling party, has once again brought to the fore the intense physical and emotional toll of grassroots political engagements.

Expressing deep shock and grief, Senator Smart Adeyemi described the late Solomon as a committed, passionate, and irreplaceable mobilizer. In a statement made available to Todaynews.ng, the former lawmaker revealed that the tragic event had left him deeply disturbed, questioning how a vibrant leader could be snuffed out in his prime during a meeting meant to foster peace and unity. "Mayowa was not just an APC chairman; he was a dependable ally and, without exaggeration, the best chairman the APC has had in Ijumu," Adeyemi lamented.

This sudden tragedy has sparked chilling recollections of a similar occurrence within the same local government. It is recalled that in 2024, a former Commissioner in the state, Ismail Adesayo, also reportedly slumped and died under highly stressful circumstances. This recurring pattern has raised urgent, uncomfortable questions regarding the underlying health conditions of political actors and the absolute lack of immediate emergency medical support during highly charged gatherings in Nigeria.