2027: Why We Want Yahaya Bello to Represent Us in 11th Senate, Kogi Central Indigenes Speak

Stakeholders in Kogi State, especially the people of Kogi Central Senatorial District, have thrown more light on the decision of the immediate past Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to contest the next senatorial election in the state.

According to them, Bello accepted the call to serve in that capacity after months of persuasion by Kogi Central indigenes, key stakeholders in the state and All Progressives Congress party members, among others.

On December 30, 2025, the former governor declared his acceptance of the calls to vie for a seat in the 11thNational Assembly before traditional rulers, religious leaders and other key stakeholders from the senatorial district, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Anaje.

Many key stakeholders in Ebira Land said critical among their reasons for supporting former Governor Bello were the unprecedented achievements in the state during his tenure, which they said had not been recorded since its creation. They said, beyond political propaganda and persecution, he recorded many firsts in the history of Kogi State that genuine political watchers and indigenes were grateful for.

A top Peoples Democratic Party chieftain from Kogi West Senatorial District said even the opposition leaders, who had been going about maligning Bello, could not fault the fact that he achieved a lot during his administration despite the fact that what accrued to governors then was one-third of what they were getting at the moment.

“We use propaganda to breathe in politics, whether positive or negative. Those who have not acknowledged Bello’s achievements in Kogi know in their hearts that they are just playing dirty politics. He was the first governor that put Kogi on the map of Nigeria’s politics for good. Forget about all the noise. The noise around him only shows that he is a force to reckon with. He is not the only politician in Nigeria,” the chieftain, who preferred anonymity for “personal reasons” said.

According to indigenes, Bello’s achievements cut across all key sectors, especially health, education and infrastructure.

“During his tenure, Kogi State built the world class Reference Hospital in Okene with state-of-the-art facilities. Go and check out the pictures or visit the hospital. You would see that the facilities and structures are second to none. He built the first ever flyover in the state, Ganaja Flyover bridge in Lokoja, saving costs on construction in the process.

“He embarked on massive upgrade of township roads across the three senatorial districts. The traffic gridlock that was typical of Okene axis and other parts became a thing of the past. Insecurity was also fought to a standstill during his tenure. We can go on and on when it comes to achievements. Going to the Senate will only bring more development to the state,” Halima Musa Abubakar from Kogi central said.

Beyond these, many indigenes said they saw Bello as the builder of the new Ebira identity, reportedly taking the ethnic group from the backseat of leadership in the state and putting them at the forefront of governance. Against all odds, another Ebira man, Governor Usman Ododo, succeeded him.

For these, stakeholders said Bello deserved to represent Kogi Central in order to continue with his lofty impacts in the senatorial district and Kogi as a whole.

A stakeholder in the state, Mr. Adeiza MomohJimoh, attributed the victory of Governor Ododo in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in the state, to the laudable achievements of former governor Yahaya Bello in his two terms of office.

Jimoh, who is the Zonal Vice chairman (North Central), of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said, “Since 1999, all elected governors, including Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada, have come from the Igala ethnic group. That was until the emergence of former governor Yahaya Bello. He was the first man from Ebira to become governor and due to his glaring achievements in his first term, he was able to secure a second term in landslide victory.

“After Alhaji Bello’s eight years in office, the general calculus by political pundits and party leaders was that power would return to the Igalas but Bello was able to sell his fellow Ebira (Governor Ododo) to the people of Kogi. You know when someone performed excellently in office as governor, campaigning and selling a successor will be like walking in the park.”

“This is one of the key reasons we in Kogi Central are clamouring that Alhaji Bello, the White Lion, should go to the Senate and represent us. We believe that there is more for him to do for his people,” MomohJimoh said.

Other indigenes, in their submissions, recalled how the senatorial hopeful left behind a governance footprint defined by institutional reforms, infrastructural expansion, security consolidation, fiscal discipline, and inclusive leadership during his reign as governor of Kogi.

According to them, Bello’s administration did not merely manage the state, it reengineered its governance architecture and repositioned the Confluence State for sustainable growth.

“Bello made lasting imprints in critical sectors such as health, education, workers’ welfare, road infrastructure, youth empowerment, agriculture, security, among others, despite the fact that states were getting one-third of what they now get under the administration of President Bola Tinubu,” Ismaila Otuoze Salihu said.

“When stakeholders came together in Kogi Central to resolve that our amiable and great-achiever governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, should go to the Senate to represent us, everyone supported the decision because the White Lion merits it and we have no doubt that our district will experience better representation. His achievements while in office speak volume for his popularity and the support he has been enjoying.

“Let’s not forget how Alhaji Bello’s administration constructed strategic bridges that have been improving intra-state mobility. He rehabilitated Lugard House (Government House), modernised Lokoja roundabouts and public spaces, completed abandoned road projects he inherited from past administrations, expanded Greater Lokoja Water Supply Scheme and upgraded water reticulation systems in major towns with meager allocations coming to the state as at then,” he said.

Salihu further revealed that the former governor ensured electrification of underserved rural communities, construction of drainage systems to control flooding, urban beautification and streetlight installation in Lokoja, development of new layouts and access roads and improved transport corridors linking Kogi to neighbouring states.

“Alhaji Bello is the people’s choice for Kogi Central Senatorial seat because his eight-year stewardship redefined governance in Kogi State. His administration combined infrastructural ambition with institutional reform, especially in the health sector.

“His administration constructed a 250-bed Reference Hospital in Okene, upgraded Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, elevated Idah General Hospital to Zonal Hospital status, constructed new general hospitals across the state, upgraded hospitals in Gegu, Isanlu, and Kabba, expanded and revitalised Primary Healthcare Centres, recruited over 2,000 health workers, among other interventions,” he said.

Hon. Umar Abdulkarim, a political figure in the zone, also described Bello as a distinguished politician with a difference, recalling how his security consciousness, inclusiveness, and fiscal prudence with social investment had culminated in making Kogi an enviable state among other sub-nationals during his tenure.

“The call for Alhaji Yahaya Bello to represent Kogi Central Senatorial District come 2027 elections is timely. We need someone who is a unifier with a track record of excellence in past public service. We did not struggle before arriving at the choice of Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello because of his landmark achievements that have positioned his tenure as one of the most successful in the political history of the Confluence State,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of Bello to combine legislative duties with transformative legacies in the senatorial district.

“Just look at his enduring legacies in education and human capital development. This is a man who introduced the Kogi State Education Strategic Plan (SESP), allocated nearly 30% of state budgets to education, recruited close to 4,000 teachers statewide, trained over 2,000 school administrators and principals, constructed and rehabilitated over 600 basic education schools, established GYB Model Science Secondary Schools among others.

“I can boldly say that Alhaji Bello’s security, safety and peace building initiatives while in office are second to none. He will transform Kogi Central better as a senator,” Abdulkarim opined.

For Philip Usman, another Ebira indigene, the district will experience significant growth with Bello as senator of Kogi Central.

“One thing that is indisputable about Alhaji Bello is his mastery of economic management and fiscal reforms. He displayed this as a governor when he digitalised tax and revenue collection systems, which brought about more than 100 per cent growth in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Kogi State,” Usman said.

Political analysts are of the view that Bello, who served as governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, has retained his street credibility since he left power, despite his running battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which many people believe to be politically motivated. The love of his people for him can be seen and felt each time he visits his hometown and the state in general, observers said.