Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has declared his intention to contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 elections, despite facing two major corruption trials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) involving allegations of misappropriating over N190 billion in state funds.
The announcement was made on December 29, 2025, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Surrounded by traditional rulers, religious leaders, community elders, and political stakeholders, Bello yielded to persistent appeals from supporters.
Sources at the event revealed that current Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo personally urged Bello to accept the calls, making the plea in the presence of the Ohinoyi and other prominent figures. After prolonged persuasion, Bello consented. “I accept to run for the Senate in 2027,” he declared, igniting excitement among attendees and signaling a bold political comeback.
The decision pits Bello against incumbent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who won the seat in 2023 as the district’s first female representative, reigniting a longstanding rivalry.
Bello’s ambitions come amid intense legal scrutiny. He faces a 19-count charge at the Federal High Court for alleged money laundering and misappropriation of ₦80.2 billion, with trial dates set for February, March, and beyond in 2026. Separately, at the FCT High Court, he is charged with 16 counts involving ₦110.4 billion in fraud, including criminal breach of trust and acquisitions of luxury properties, such as an apartment in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Recent hearings in November 2025 continued witness testimonies, while an August 2025 Appeal Court ruling reinstated forfeiture orders on 14 linked properties.