2027: Kogi Central Stands Still For Yahaya Bello’s Homecoming as Major Stakeholders Vow Support

*’Your victory already sealed’, constituents assure ex-gov

Kogi Central Senatorial District on Friday erupted in a wave of excitement as former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, returned home to a massive reception by indigenes of the region and the supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

The homecoming, which attracted a huge crowd across the district, was marked by colourful displays, chants and enthusiastic supporters who trooped out in large numbers to welcome the former governor and APC senatorial candidate.

Yahaya Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, emerged as the APC candidate for the Kogi Central Senate seat after winning the party’s May 2026 senatorial primary.

They enumerated some of the legacy projects of Bello when he governed the state, declaring that the senatorial hopeful is naturally loved by the entire residents of Kogi, even years after meritoriously completing his two term of office.

Many stakeholders and residents across Kogi Central who led constituents to welcome Bello vowed to further demonstrate their gratitude for the “good works” of the former governor by voting him massively next year.

Speaking during the homecoming, former Kogi State APC Chairman and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, described the reception as a demonstration of the affection and confidence the people of Kogi Central have for the former governor.

“This is the homecoming of a leader that liberated the whole Ebiraland, and we all trooped out to welcome him. It is not an easy thing. We love him and we have to demonstrate that,” Abdullahi Bello said.

He declared that the APC structure in Kogi Central was fully prepared for the forthcoming election, stressing that the district remained a stronghold of the party.
“I will not flatter you with words, but obviously, as you can see for yourself, Ebiraland, Kogi Central, is the home of the All Progressives Congress. APC is here. APC lives here. We preach APC,” he said.

According to him, the massive crowd witnessed during the homecoming was not merely a political gathering but an indication of the level of acceptance he said Bello enjoys among the people.

He expressed confidence that APC members and supporters across the five local government areas of Kogi Central would mobilise behind Bello at the polls, saying, “APC is 100 per cent prepared to vote Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello to the Red Chamber come next year.”

Bello’s emergence as the APC flag bearer followed a direct primary in which he was declared winner with 72,399 votes across the district.

He said: “The era of using professional influence or advantage, I think, is over. The law will put an end to that when you beat a candidate mercilessly with a very clear margin. Then I think you’ll learn some lessons, and that is going to happen in this election.”

Addressing the overwhelming crowd that welcomed the former governor, the former APC chairman said he was not surprised by the turnout, insisting that Bello’s political appeal cuts across age and gender.
“I am not surprised because Alhaji Yahaya Bello has done so much to the extent that every Ebira, both young and old, man and woman, they so much believe in him. Even if you hear his name, you just have to join the queue,” he said.

He further claimed that the message of the APC campaign was already resonating with party members and supporters across the district.

The former chairman also linked the reception to what he described as the security situation in Kogi Central during Bello’s tenure as governor, recalling that the area had previously experienced episodes of violence and insecurity.

“Before now, especially 2007 and 2008, this Central used to be a battlefield, burning of houses and killing of innocent people. But the coming of Alhaji Yahaya Bello put an end to all that,” he said.

According to him, the relative peace in the area has enabled residents to move freely and participate in political and economic activities without the level of fear associated with previous years.

Other constituents who spoke hailed the track records of Bello, promising to mobilise support for him to win with wide margin.

Responding, the former governor expressed happiness at the show of love by his people, describing the massive crowd who came to honour him as “organic” and proof that sense of appreciation of the people of the state, especially in Kogi Central is “inborn”.

Addressing journalists at the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Belo emphatically stated that the all the APC candidates for the 2027 general elections would emerge victorious at the polls, saying, “I have never doubted that my people are with me 100%. I have never doubted that my people are supporting APC 100%. I have never doubted that my people will support and vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 100%. I have never doubted that my people are with my governor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo 100%.”

He further expressed assurance that he enjoys the total support of the people of Kogi Central ahead of the Senatorial polls.

“I have never doubted that my people are going to vote myself as the senator representing Kogi Central and all of our other candidates on the platform of All Progressives Congress because they know very well what this party has done to liberate our people and bringing
infrastructure to the people and ensuring that dividend of democracy is
delivered to our people and is still being delivered to our people,” Bello pointed out.

While appreciating the people for the show of love and support, he said “Kogi State is 100% APC and APC is Kogi State 100%.”

“So, I sincerely appreciate my people for displaying this love and affection. It is organic, it is inborn, it is inherent, it’s in our DNA, and I sincerely appreciate them, I appreciate. Let me appreciate God Almighty, and I appreciate our party, and I appreciate the leader of our party President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; I appreciate my governor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and all the party members from top down.

“I want to assure Mr President that Kogi State election is done and Kogi Central in particular is as good as done 100% for APC,” he maintained.

The Friday’s homecoming, according to stakeholders, provided a striking display of the mobilisation surrounding the former governor, with supporters turning out in large numbers to receive him as he formally reconnects with his political base ahead of the 2027 National Assembly election.