Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has announced plans to run for the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.
Bello made the declaration during a visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where he met with traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders from the district. He later shared a video of the visit on his verified Facebook page, telling the gathering that he had accepted to contest for the Senate in 2027.
The seat is currently held by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was elected in 2023 as the first female senator from Kogi State. Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024 and remains a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), is expected to challenge her.
Reacting to the development, Akpoti-Uduaghan dismissed any intimidation, describing herself as Bello’s “political nightmare.” Speaking on the Mic On Podcast, she said she was unafraid of facing the former governor at the polls and confidently welcomed the contest.
