Yahaya Bello Sweeps Kogi Central APC Primary As Oshiomhole Wins Edo North

Yahaya Bello Sweeps Kogi Central APC Primary As Oshiomhole Wins Edo North

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election for Kogi Central after recording a sweeping victory across the district’s five local government areas.

The former governor secured 72,399 votes in the primary conducted on Monday, defeating Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke, who polled 319 votes, and Momoh Yusuf Obaro, who garnered 188 votes.

The result was announced by the Returning Officer, Dr Sadiq Mohammed, who declared Bello winner of the APC Kogi Central senatorial primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the official breakdown of results, Bello scored 18,341 votes in Adavi Local Government Area, 10,298 in Ajaokuta, 5,146 in Ogori/Magongo, 8,943 in Okehi and a massive 29,621 votes in Okene Local Government Area.

The outcome further strengthens Bello’s political influence within the ruling APC in Kogi State despite his ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Party sources said the former governor enjoyed strong backing from grassroots delegates and influential stakeholders across Kogi Central throughout the primary exercise.

Speaking after the election, Bello thanked APC members and supporters for the overwhelming mandate, promising to deliver effective representation if elected into the Senate in 2027.

He also called on aggrieved aspirants and party members to unite ahead of the general election.

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Meanwhile, the Kogi APC primaries produced mixed outcomes in other senatorial districts.

In Kogi West, incumbent Senator Sunday Karimi reportedly maintained a comfortable lead after several frontline aspirants withdrew from the race before the conclusion of the exercise.

Among those said to have stepped down were former senator Smart Adeyemi and Samuel Bamidele Aro, a development that boosted Karimi’s chances of securing the party ticket.

However, the contest in Kogi East generated controversy, with reports indicating that incumbent Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho was trailing behind his rival, Dr Joe Erico Ameh, in parts of the district.

Echocho reportedly lost in his Dekina Local Government Area, where he polled only two votes, while Ameh secured 19,805 votes.

Dr Joe Erico Ameh is believed to enjoy the backing of powerful stakeholders within the Kogi APC structure.

Some aspirants, including Muritala Ajaka and Echocho, criticised the conduct of the primary election, alleging irregularities and claiming that the process fell below acceptable party standards.

In Edo State, former governor and serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, emerged as the APC candidate for Edo North Senatorial District unopposed.

The party’s Returning Officer, Kassim Otono, announced that Oshiomhole polled 24,284 votes to clinch the APC ticket for a second term in the Senate.

Addressing journalists after the announcement, Oshiomhole described his unopposed victory as a huge honour and thanked party members across Edo North for their confidence in him.

“For me to have nobody challenging me in Edo North is an honour and I can’t thank the people of Edo North enough,” Oshiomhole said.

The former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress disclosed that the only aspirant who initially signified interest in the contest later withdrew voluntarily in support of his candidacy.

Oshiomhole also pledged to continue attracting development projects, political influence and federal presence to Edo North, popularly referred to as Afemailand.

The APC senatorial primaries across several states are expected to shape the ruling party’s political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections, with former governors, incumbent lawmakers and influential political figures battling for tickets in strategic districts nationwide.

Yahaya Bello Sweeps Kogi Central APC Primary As Oshiomhole Wins Edo North