Kwara APC Elders’ Caucus Snubs Reconciliation Committee Invitation

The Kwara State APC Elders’ Caucus has declined an invitation from the reconciliation committee constituted by the state government and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to address the lingering crisis within the party.

In a letter signed by its Chairman, Sir Chief (Dr.) James Bamisaiye Ayenioye, JP, and General Secretary, Hon. Abdulmumin Sidiq Katibi, the caucus explained the reasons for rejecting the invitation.

According to the letter, the reconciliation committee had invited the caucus through a correspondence dated July 11, 2026, which was duly received and acknowledged.

The elders expressed appreciation for the invitation, describing it as an honour, but stated that they would be unable to honour it for several reasons.

They noted that the caucus had, on several occasions, made concerted efforts to reconcile aggrieved members of the party across the state, but alleged that both Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC State Executive Committee ignored their initiatives, including formal letters seeking dialogue.

The caucus further stated that, before the party primaries, its leadership visited the Government House with the intention of discussing the state of the party but was allegedly kept waiting for about three hours without being granted an audience by the governor.

According to the elders, several letters addressed to both the governor and the APC state chairman on the need for reconciliation also received no response.

The caucus argued that the composition of the reconciliation committee appeared to be an afterthought, contending that those who constituted the committee were themselves central to the issues that gave rise to the current crisis within the party.

“It is against the principles of natural justice for a party to a dispute to serve as judge in the same matter,” the letter stated, citing the legal maxim Nemo judex in causa sua (“No one should be a judge in his own cause”).

The caucus therefore maintained that the issues at stake were beyond the committee’s mandate.

Despite declining the invitation, the elders reaffirmed their commitment to the All Progressives Congress, describing themselves as foundation members of the party.

They also reiterated their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, expressing continued support for his leadership.

If this is intended for publication, it would be appropriate to seek and include the response of the APC reconciliation committee or the Kwara State APC leadership to provide balance to the report.