Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has formally declared his intention to contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, even as he faces trial over alleged multi-billion-naira fraud.
Bello made the declaration on Monday during a visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, where he met with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders from the senatorial district.
In a video shared on his verified Facebook page, Bello told the gathering, “I accept to run for the Senate in 2027.”
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and other political figures were present at the event. Ododo urged Bello to heed calls from party leaders and constituents to represent Kogi Central at the National Assembly.
Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024 and remains an influential figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), now faces both political and legal battles ahead of the polls.
He is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over alleged N80 billion money-laundering and fraud linked to his tenure as governor. Bello has denied any wrongdoing.
In recent court proceedings, bank officials testified regarding alleged large withdrawals from state government accounts and questioned transactions, as the EFCC seeks to establish a pattern of financial misconduct. The case has experienced multiple adjournments and is expected to continue into 2026.
Reactions to Bello’s declaration have been mixed across political circles.
His senatorial ambition potentially sets up a direct clash with the incumbent, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who became the first woman to represent Kogi Central after her victory in the 2023 general elections.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, a lawyer and former governorship aspirant, has herself faced legal challenges, including a previous arraignment on criminal defamation charges filed by the federal government, in which both Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Bello were listed as complainants.
With Bello’s announcement, political alignments in Kogi Central are expected to intensify ahead of 2027, even as his trial continues in court.