In a firm rebuttal to circulating rumors, former Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has stated unequivocally that he does not intend to run for president in 2027.
The clarification was issued on Friday via a statement from his Media Director, Michael Ohiare, following the viral spread of a video from a 2022 rally, which some claimed showed Bello campaigning against President Bola Tinubu.
The statement read, “While we state categorically, that our principal, Bello, has no 2027 presidential ambition, we want to also stress his unflinching commitment to the re-election of President Tinubu come 2027.”
Ohiare praised President Tinubu’s administration, noting the significant progress made despite international and domestic challenges. “The indices cannot lie. The President and his team have done exceedingly well for the country, despite global challenges. On merit, he deserves the support of well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.
The media director dismissed the viral video as a “senseless post” created by “a confused, witless mind” and highlighted that the banners in the footage clearly displayed the year 2022, proving the post’s inaccuracy. He accused those spreading the misinformation of being “mischief makers” intent on misleading the public.
According to Ohiare, attempts to drive a wedge between Bello and President Tinubu are not new. “This latest slant of reposting a 2022 rally afresh and insinuating that it is just happening, connotes nothing but sheer mischief,” he added.
He warned Nigerians to be vigilant against such falsehoods, which he described as part of a “bring-him-down-at-all-costs” campaign against Bello. The statement reaffirmed Bello’s loyalty to President Tinubu and urged citizens to reject divisive and fabricated stories.
