APC Risks Losing Kogi Central, Votes If Yahaya Bello Is Imposed In 2027 — Group Warns

A pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Kogi APC Renaissance Forum, has warned that the party stands the risk of losing Kogi Central Senatorial District, the Kogi State governorship, and suffering serious setbacks in the 2027 presidential election if former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, is imposed as the party’s candidate for Kogi Central.

The warning followed the recent inauguration of the committee for the Osun State governorship primary election, during which Yahaya Bello was named as a member of the committee by the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yiltwatda. A statement from the meeting, which circulated widely, confirmed the former governor’s inclusion among party leaders charged with delivering a transparent and credible primary process.

Reacting to the development, the Kogi APC Renaissance Forum, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Adejo Emmanuel, described the appointment as “embarrassing and damaging” to the image of the ruling party, especially at a time when the APC is projecting itself as a party committed to transparency and accountability.

The group expressed concern that despite the abundance of credible and untainted party members, the national leadership opted to appoint a former governor who is currently standing trial before the courts on allegations of massive financial impropriety.

According to the statement, Yahaya Bello is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion, as well as a separate ₦110 billion, 16-count fraud charge before the Federal High Court and the FCT High Court respectively.

“It is unacceptable that a man being prosecuted for alleged financial misdeeds will be included among those to handle such a sensitive and noble assignment,” the forum said.

The group argued that the appointment undermines the anti-corruption drive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the administration has recovered several billions of naira through the EFCC as part of efforts to strengthen the economy and restore public confidence in governance.

The forum warned that elevating Yahaya Bello within the party structure, or presenting him as a candidate in 2027, would expose the APC to ridicule from opposition parties and erode public trust, particularly among young voters and undecided electorates in Kogi State.

“This appointment paints the APC in a very bad light before Nigerians and creates the false impression that the party fraternizes with individuals facing serious trials,” the statement added.

Politically, the group cautioned that imposing Yahaya Bello as the APC candidate for Kogi Central in 2027 would almost certainly trigger voter apathy and protest voting, leading to the loss of the senatorial seat. It further warned that such a development would have a ripple effect on the governorship election in the state and significantly weaken the APC’s performance in the presidential election.

The forum maintained that the former governor lacks the grassroots acceptance and political capacity to deliver electoral victories for the party, even within his immediate constituency.

“He has little or no capacity to deliver even his own polling unit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” the group stated.

The Kogi APC Renaissance Forum therefore advised the APC national leadership, particularly the National Chairman, to urgently review the appointment and avoid actions capable of damaging the party’s credibility, unity, and electoral fortunes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group stressed that the future of the APC in Kogi State depends on credible leadership, internal democracy, and candidates with clean records and broad-based acceptance among the electorate.