Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has officially declared his intention to contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, despite facing a high-profile N80 billion money-laundering and fraud case. Bello, who governed the state from 2016 to 2024, made the announcement during a visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, meeting traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders.
A video of the declaration was shared on his verified Facebook page, where he stated, “I accept to run for the Senate in 2027.”
Okay News reports that Bello’s political influence remains strong within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. The EFCC is prosecuting him in a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, with recent testimonies from bank officials alleging large-scale withdrawals from state accounts during his tenure. The case, which Bello denies, has faced multiple adjournments and is expected to continue into 2026.
Bello’s bid sets up a potential contest with incumbent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the first woman to represent Kogi Central after her 2023 victory. Akpoti-Uduaghan, a lawyer and former governorship aspirant, also has her own legal challenges, having been previously arraigned on criminal defamation charges involving both Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Bello.
