By Adesakin Adefemi
Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has picked the All Progressives Congress, APC, nomination form for the Kogi Central senatorial seat, setting up a high-profile contest against incumbent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Bello reportedly received the forms on Saturday and has been adopted as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 general elections. Party sources said the move ends speculation about rival aspirants in the district ahead of the primaries.
The former two-term governor left office in January 2024 after handing over to his successor, Governor Usman Ododo. His entry into the senatorial race marks his first elective bid since leaving the Lugard House in Lokoja.
Kogi Central has been a political flashpoint since 2023, when Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan won the seat on the PDP platform after a protracted legal battle. The rematch with Bello is expected to be one of the most watched contests in the 2027 election cycle.
APC stakeholders in the district said Bello’s consensus status followed consultations across the five local government areas of Kogi Central. The party is banking on his name recognition and political structure to reclaim the seat.
Reacting to the development, aides of the former governor said Bello is running to “deepen legislative representation” for Kogi Central and push for more federal presence in the district. They added that his experience as governor would guide his senatorial agenda.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has not formally responded to Bello’s entry. However, PDP officials in the state insist she remains the party’s candidate and will defend her mandate based on her record in the 10th National Assembly.
INEC’s timetable for the 2027 polls requires parties to conduct primaries and submit nominated candidates later this year. With Bello’s emergence as consensus pick, APC is expected to hold an affirmation exercise rather than a competitive primary.
Political analysts say the Bello-Natasha matchup will test party loyalty, ethnic alignments, and the influence of state power in Kogi Central. Both figures command strong grassroots followings, raising the stakes for security, voter mobilization, and campaign spending in the district.
