The newly inaugurated Reconciliation Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State has officially commenced its assignment, calling on all aggrieved leaders, stakeholders, and aspirants from the recent primary elections to sheath their swords and embrace an internal resolution process.
The Committee’s Chairman, Retired Colonel AbdulWahab Ademola Lawal, made the appeal during a press conference on Wednesday at the party’s Secretariat in Ilorin, the State Capital.
The briefing followed weeks of post-primary tension, public rallies, and counter-rallies that have threatened the cohesion of the ruling party across the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Colonel Lawal expressed deep appreciation to the leader of the party in the state, Executive Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, for setting up the committee at what he described as a crucial moment in the party’s history.
Acknowledging the daunting nature of the assignment, the chairman noted that the committee is highly optimistic about achieving a breakthrough, emphasizing that the current crisis is a “family feud” since no aggrieved faction has abandoned the progressive fold.
“We have watched and listened to all contending positions as they unfold publicly. No party to this misunderstanding has jettisoned the party; all pay allegiance to the party. In this regard, our task is made light. It is thus a family feud, and we must all resolve issues with family love,” Lawal stated.
Outlining the committee’s strict Terms of Reference, the chairman disclosed that the panel has been mandated to proactively engage and mediate with all dissatisfied members across the three senatorial districts. The primary objective is to pinpoint the core drivers of the disputes and facilitate long-term, amicable settlements before submitting a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations to the State Executive Committee.
To ensure total inclusivity, Colonel Lawal revealed a strategic roadmap that includes holding decentralised consultative meetings at the senatorial levels. These sessions will bring together local government executives, aspirants, statutory candidates, and various interest groups.
Significantly, the chairman announced that the committee will engage extensively with the “G15” a prominent coalition of aggrieved aspirants both individually and collectively, to find common ground. He also welcomed independent mediation efforts already initiated by various internal party organs, stating that the committee’s creation was intended to reinforce, rather than replace, existing peace tracks.
“Our appeal to all our members is to sheath the sword and refrain from provocative utterances. This is necessary to douse tension and allow good reasoning to prevail. All of us as party members must be ready to make the sacrifices necessary to enable the APC to retain its winning streaks in Kwara State. We must not betray the confidence reposed in us by the good people of Kwara State,” the chairman added.
The panel concluded by issuing a strong appeal to media practitioners, particularly social media content creators, to report unfolding developments with utmost objectivity and avoid publishing incendiary or speculative statements capable of overheating the polity.
Other top members of the reconciliation committee present at the high-profile briefing included Dr. Oluwatoyin Opawoye, Engr. Musa Yeketi, and Assistant Comptroller-General Ahmed Abbass (Rtd).