Ododo Tasks Wada-Led Panel to Reconcile Kogi APC Members Ahead of 2027

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has turned to former governor Idris Ichala Wada and other senior political figures to help resolve internal disagreements within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Ododo inaugurated a 17-member Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, headed by Wada, with a specific mandate to engage aggrieved party members, identify the issues behind existing disputes and work towards restoring unity within the APC.

The governor, while inaugurating the committee, stressed the importance of reconciliation as the party moves towards another major electoral contest.

He urged the committee to approach its assignment with seriousness, particularly by reaching out to members who may have become dissatisfied or withdrawn from active participation in the party because of unresolved grievances.

Ododo said political differences should not be allowed to permanently divide members, advocating dialogue and consultation as the preferred means of resolving disagreements.

He also directed the committee to identify founding members of the APC who are no longer active and explore ways of bringing them back into the party.

The committee has three weeks to complete its assignment and submit its findings.

Among its responsibilities is the preparation of a statewide grievance and stakeholder mapping report designed to provide a clearer picture of disputes and the individuals or groups involved.

The panel is also expected to compile unresolved internal conflicts, examine possible solutions and develop an APC Continuous Reconciliation Action Plan.

Another aspect of its mandate is to recommend a framework for reintegrating returning members while creating room for new entrants into the party.

Ododo said the reconciliation effort was necessary to strengthen the APC’s internal cohesion and position the party for the 2027 elections.

He noted that the APC had maintained a dominant position in Kogi politics since 2015 and expressed confidence that greater unity could help the party consolidate its standing.

The governor also linked political stability within the state to the wider development agenda, highlighting federal projects approved for Kogi, including the Kogi International Airport and Ajaokuta Economic City.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Wada thanked Ododo for the confidence placed in its members and pledged their commitment to the assignment.

Former deputy governors Yomi Awoniyi and Edward Onoja are also members of the committee, with Onoja serving as its second vice chairman.

The inauguration comes as political activity begins to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with the APC seeking to address internal grievances and strengthen its structures before the contest.