From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

It was a dark day for the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State on Friday when the party’s local government chairman, Oyewole Mayowa Solomon, reportedly slumped and died during a reconciliation meeting in Iyara, the council headquarters.

The meeting, convened by a former chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, Funsho Olumoko was aimed at bringing together party stakeholders and leaders to promote unity and reconciliation within the APC ahead of the coming elections.

According to an eyewitness account, Solomon was actively participating in the meeting held at Iyara Town Hall when he suddenly slumped, throwing participants into confusion and panic.

Efforts were reportedly made to revive him and secure medical attention, but he was said to have died shortly afterwards in a hospital in Kabba, where he was rushed to.

The development sent shock waves through the gathering, with party leaders and other participants said to have been left devastated by the sudden death of the APC chairman.

The meeting came against the backdrop of recent efforts by APC leaders and stakeholders in Ijumu to address disagreements within the party and strengthen unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Our Correspondent gathered that earlier this month, APC stakeholders in the LGA had held a meeting in Iyara at which they endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for second terms.

The stakeholders had also called for greater unity among party members, although the earlier meeting was reportedly marked by disagreements over the leadership of the local government, where the deceased and some other top government functionaries were said to have walked out of the Local government council chairman.

Olumoko, who convened Friday’s meeting, was a former chairman of the Local Government and has previously been tasked by the Ijumu Consultative Forum with helping to unite political stakeholders in the area.

The meeting was expected to bring together selected political leaders, local government and ward executives, women and youth leaders as well as government appointees from Ijumu’s 15 wards, according to the earlier notice announcing the gathering.

The death of Solomon is expected to cast a fresh shadow over ongoing efforts to reconcile the various tendencies within the Ijumu APC, coming barely two weeks after party stakeholders publicly canvassed unity and support for the APC leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

As of the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s sudden death had not been officially disclosed, while attempts to obtain an official statement from the party on the incident are ongoing.

From Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, has rejected the local government election being conducted by the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC), describing the exercise as unconstitutional, legally defective and a violation of subsisting court judgments.

The party made its position known in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary and spokesperson, Darlington Peter Onwe, in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The PDP alleged that the election could not be regarded as a genuine democratic exercise, claiming that the process was being conducted against the backdrop of previous court judgments nullifying local government elections in the state.

According to the party, the constitutional guarantee of democratically elected local government councils means that the conduct of a local government election must comply with the principles of democratic participation, political competition and the rule of law.

The opposition party cited Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils, as well as Section 14(2), which recognizes popular sovereignty and participation in government.

The PDP also relied on the Supreme Court judgment in Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Others, arguing that only democratically elected local government councils are constitutionally entitled to recognition and direct receipt of federal allocations.

The party further challenged the legality of the two-year tenure prescribed for local government chairmen and councillors under the Amended Ebonyi State Local Government Law No. 005, arguing that the provision is inconsistent with the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on local government tenure.

It recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki had, on August 25, 2022, nullified the local government election conducted in the state on July 30, 2022, over alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and denial of a level playing field to contestants.

The PDP said the judgment was subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, in May 2025, but alleged that EBSIEC nevertheless conducted another local government and council election on July 20, 2024.

According to the party, the 2024 election was also nullified by the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, on October 21, 2025, with the court allegedly sacking the 13 local government chairmen and 171 councillors elected through the exercise.

The party further claimed that the court restrained EBSIEC and the state government from conducting another local government election except in strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, alleging that the order remained subsisting.

Describing the alleged conduct of another election despite the court order as a contempt of court and an assault on the rule of law, the PDP warned that any local government structure produced through what it described as a defective process could face legal and financial consequences.

The party also raised concerns over the possible impact of the dispute on federal allocations to the state’s 13 local government areas, citing the Supreme Court’s position on democratic legitimacy and local government funding.

The PDP called on EBSIEC to suspend the election and comply with all outstanding judicial pronouncements affecting local government administration in the state.

It also urged the Ebonyi State Government to amend the relevant local government law to bring the tenure of elected council officials into conformity with the Constitution and ensure what it described as transparent and verifiable participation by all registered political parties.

The party further called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take note of the development and urged relevant federal agencies responsible for the administration of public funds to ensure compliance with applicable judicial decisions.

The PDP said it reserved its right to challenge the election in court and pursue contempt proceedings against individuals or authorities it believes proceeded with the exercise in conscious disregard of subsisting judicial pronouncements.

Onwe maintained that the party’s position was not merely political but was rooted in what he described as constitutional provisions, judicial precedents and the need to protect democracy and the rule of law in Ebonyi State.

The PDP spokesperson urged stakeholders to prioritize the interests of the people and ensure that local government administration in the state is anchored on a lawful, credible and genuinely democratic electoral process.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, at the weekend, said the political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections will produce a larger national coalition in support of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike spoke in Abuja during an inspection of ongoing projects in the Federal Capital Territory, while reacting to the recent visit of Osun State Governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke, to President Tinubu.

The minister said Adeleke’s engagement with the President was an indication of the emergence of what he described as a “larger Rainbow Coalition” in support of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Wike dismissed the description of the emerging political alignment as an opposition matter, arguing that the current political landscape did not have a clearly defined leading opposition party.

According to him, Adeleke, despite securing his ticket for the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party, remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that the recent political engagement was aimed at strengthening support for Tinubu.

Wike said more political developments should be expected in the coming weeks, predicting that additional politicians would align with Tinubu.

The FCT minister also dismissed claims by members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the party and other opposition groups played a decisive role in Adeleke’s electoral victory.

He maintained that Adeleke was now supporting Tinubu, adding that the development had strengthened the President’s position ahead of 2027.

Wike further described the forthcoming election as one that would be easy for the President’s camp, saying the emerging political alignments had significantly altered the opposition landscape.

Reacting to questions on how former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi might perceive his engagement with Adeleke, Wike said their reactions were of little concern to him.

He argued that the PDP, which ordinarily should constitute the major opposition party, had been weakened by its internal crisis.

Wike said his priority was to ensure victory for his political camp, adding that political contests were not about making opponents comfortable.

Earlier, the minister said the project inspection was part of efforts to ensure that key infrastructure earmarked for completion this year were delivered on schedule.

He inspected the N5 Extension in Life Camp, being executed by Julius Berger, and expressed satisfaction with the progress of work.

Wike said the project was expected to be completed and handed over in December.

He also inspected the N1 Road project being executed by Arab Contractors, describing the quality of work as high and confirming that it was also scheduled for handover in December.

The minister subsequently inspected the IBB International Golf Club, which is undergoing rehabilitation following intervention by President Tinubu.

Wike said the facility had become particularly important to members of the diplomatic community who had complained about the prolonged closure of the club.

He explained that Julius Berger was re-engaged because the company originally constructed the facility and had the requisite knowledge of its design and standards.

According to him, physical completion is expected by November, allowing the club to reopen officially in December.

The minister said the golf club was shut following an internal crisis, which led to the appointment of a caretaker committee headed by the President of the Court of Appeal.

He commended the committee for its efforts in resolving the crisis and facilitating the rehabilitation of the facility.

Wike, however, said the government would not continue to bankroll the club after its reopening.

He said the management must generate sufficient revenue to sustain its operations and maintenance without relying on public funds.

The minister assured that the FCT Administration would continue to facilitate payments to the contractor to keep the rehabilitation on schedule, stressing that the December reopening deadline remained firm.