Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has reportedly been disqualified from participating in the All Progressives Congress senatorial primaries after allegedly failing to appear before the party’s screening committee.
According to a screening report obtained from the APC Kogi State Secretariat, Bello did not show up for the exercise, leading to his exclusion from the list of cleared aspirants.
Party insiders claimed the former governor’s absence was intentional, suggesting he avoided scrutiny linked to ongoing criminal allegations against him.
Bello is currently standing trial in two separate cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
One of the cases involves a 19-count charge alleging money laundering of about N80.2 billion, with accusations that he and others diverted funds from the Kogi State treasury through multiple accounts and luxury property purchases in Nigeria and Dubai. The matter is being heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja before Justice Emeka Nwite, with several witnesses, including bank officials, giving testimony.
In another case, the EFCC filed a 16-count charge accusing Bello and two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, of diverting public funds amounting to about N110.4 billion.
Sources familiar with the screening process told reporters that Bello deliberately stayed away from the APC exercise to avoid answering questions related to the criminal allegations listed in the party’s screening form, particularly those concerning ongoing investigations.
Some party insiders further alleged that security operatives were on standby at the party secretariat during the screening, prompting the former governor to stay away.
Bello, who is seeking the APC ticket for Kogi Central Senatorial District, has faced sustained controversy over his ambition due to his ongoing corruption trial and legal challenges.
He was declared wanted by the EFCC in 2024 over allegations tied to the cases before later appearing in court where he pleaded not guilty.
His senatorial ambition has continued to attract criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups, and some within the APC, who argue that the unresolved corruption allegations raise concerns about his suitability for public office.