Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has announced plans to vie for the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made during a recent visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where Bello held discussions with traditional rulers, religious figures, and other key stakeholders from the senatorial district. A video from the visit, showing his announcement, was later shared on his verified Facebook page on Monday.
While addressing those present, Bello openly stated his decision to seek a seat in the Senate come 2027.
The Kogi Central Senatorial seat is currently held by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She was elected in 2023 to represent the district in the 10th National Assembly, becoming the first woman from Kogi State to serve as a senator.
Bello served as governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024 and remains a prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Reacting to Bello’s ambition, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has insisted she is not intimidated by the former governor. Speaking during an interview on the Mic On Podcast, the senator described herself as Bello’s political challenge rather than the other way around.
According to her, if both of them appear on the ballot in 2027, she is fully prepared for the contest, stressing that Bello does not pose any threat to her political future.
She also responded to allegations surrounding the removal of some of her constituency projects, clarifying that she had earlier raised concerns about certain projects being taken off her list.
It will be recalled that during the 2023 elections, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Yahaya Bello of deliberately blocking major roads in Kogi State to disrupt the electoral process. Since then, both politicians have remained in a prolonged political rivalry.
