Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello declares interest in the 2027 Kogi Central Senate race, setting up a challenge to Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan amid an EFCC trial
Yahaya Bello Declares 2027 Senate Bid, Set to Battle Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has formally declared his intention to contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, setting up a potential high-stakes contest against the incumbent senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
Bello made the declaration during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where he met with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and key stakeholders from the senatorial district.
Addressing the gathering, the former governor said he had accepted calls from supporters to represent the district at the National Assembly, declaring unequivocally:
“I accept to run for the Senate in 2027.”
The event attracted prominent political figures, including Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, alongside several community leaders and party stakeholders, underscoring the political weight of the declaration.
Bello served as Governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, after which he handed over to his successor. His entry into the senatorial race is expected to reshape political calculations within Kogi Central, currently represented by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who won the seat in the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, Bello is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor. He is being tried alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu on a 16-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
The alleged offences involve a sum of ₦110.4 billion. The trial, being handled by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, has been adjourned until 2026.
Despite the pending legal proceedings, Bello’s declaration signals a return to frontline politics and sets the stage for a keenly contested senatorial race in Kogi Central ahead of 2027. Read More
