Lokoja, Kogi State, NIGERIA — Former Governor Yahaya Bello has officially signaled his return to the political frontline by picking up the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression of interest forms for the Kogi Central senatorial district. The forms were presented to him on Saturday.
Bello is expected to challenge the incumbent, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This rivalry, which has defined Kogi politics for several election cycles, is now moving from the executive struggle to the red chambers of the Senate.
Okay News understands that the ex-governor’s transition comes after completing two terms in Lugard House and successfully handing over to his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.
Bello’s emergence as a consensus candidate mirrors a broader national trend within the APC this week, seen in states like Ebonyi and Lagos, where the party is moving to eliminate internal friction through pre-primary agreements. While Ebonyi APC has declared that “no seat will be contested” due to their consensus model, the Kogi Central race is expected to be anything but quiet, given the influence of both Bello and Natasha in the region.
