Kogi central APC Stakeholders warn against Bello’s senatorial ambition

By Richard Elesho/Kogi

Political leaders and stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kogi Central Senatorial District have warned that the plot by former governor Yahaya Bello to contest for the Senatorial seat in 2027 may breed resentment and anarchy as witnessed in 2023 election.

The APC stakeholders said this while calling for the zoning of the Senatorial ticket outside of Okene LGA for equity, fairness, and inclusion.

The APC stakeholders operating under the “Conscious Ebira Youth for Tinubu,” anchored their demand on the fact that both former governor Yahaya Bello and the incumbent governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, are from Okene Local Government Area.

They noted that the situation has closed the political space against other members from outside Okene.

They further argued that the declaration of Bello to contest for the Senatorial election may result in situation witnessed in 2023 when the gubernatorial and senatorial candidates of APC were chosen from Okene LGA, causing the party to lost the election to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP.

The stakeholders said this in a letter dated January 13, 2026, signed by the Chairman of the group, Adavize M. Ogirima and addressed to the APC National Chairman, Prof Nentanwe Yiltada.

The Tinubu support group noted that the party leadership in the zone had shown retrogressive attitude by appointing 797 appointees from Okene LGA while the remaining four LGA of Okehi, Adavi, Ogori Magongo, and Ajaokuta were marginalized.

They contended that the political realities on the ground contradict the party’s motto of “Justice, Peace, and Unity.”

They attributed the loss of the Senatorial election in 2023 to the protest votes of aggrieved APC members from the four marginalized local government areas over the unjust, unfair, and lopsided appointments of the APC government .

They therefore urged the Governor Mala Mai Buni Committee on Strategy, conflict Resolution, and Mobilization to implement a system that gives everyone, especially the aggrieved party members from the other four LGAs , a sense of belonging and inclusion in line with the Renewed Hope vision.

The stakeholders equally called on the National Chairman to show expedited action to their concerns to avoid another round of protest votes during the 2027 elections by ensuring that the Senatorial candidate of the party is not from Okene Local Government Area.

“Now again your Excellency sir, Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, who couldn’t, deliver his sectional seat for APC while serving as governor now has indicated interest to contest for senate in 2027 from the same LGA where the present Governor Anmed Usman Ododo hails from…

“While thanking His Excellency for his time in going through this letter, may we humbly request your Excellency’s expeditious concern to our complaints to avoid further internal party crisis, malicious obedience and disunity in Kogi Central senatorial District, because the senatorial district must go to another LGA NOT Okene, again.

“Finally, we appeal to your Excellency sir, to give stakeholders in Kogi central Senatorial district a new sense of belonging by zoning the next senatorial seat to other Local Government Areas viz Okehi, Ogori Magongo, Adavi or Ajaokuta NOT Okene Local Government Area again.”