Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has ignited fresh controversy after issuing a stern warning to individuals he described as “political criminals,” declaring that he would “deal with” anyone who maligns him during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bello made the remarks on July 9 while speaking at the call-to-bar ceremony of Tijani Lubabatu Ozavize, Esq., in Kogi State, where he warned that political campaigns would not serve as a licence for what he termed character assassination.
Addressing supporters, the former governor said, “The political criminals within Kogi Central, get ready. We are coming at you.”
Without mentioning any individual by name, Bello added, “If you turn yourself into that political enemy, that political criminal, criminality is criminality. You cannot tell me that because it is campaign season you can use your mouth to malign me. I will deal with you. I will come against you.”
The remarks come as political activities gather momentum across Kogi State ahead of the 2027 elections, with Bello remaining one of the state’s most influential political figures despite leaving office.
He also urged residents to embrace what he described as a new political era, expressing confidence in the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We must set ourselves free. We must reach for the stars. The old style is gone. This is a new era, and by the grace of God, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will lead us to the promised land,” Bello said, while urging parents to raise law-abiding children.
Bello’s latest comments are expected to deepen the already tense political atmosphere in Kogi Central, where his long-running rivalry with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has remained one of the state’s defining political battles.
For years, both politicians have traded accusations over governance, political intimidation and violence. Bello has repeatedly accused the senator of stoking political unrest in Kogi Central, while Akpoti-Uduaghan has alleged that the former governor and his political associates orchestrated attacks and intimidation against her supporters. Bello and his allies have consistently denied the allegations.
Their bitter rivalry has played out at political rallies, in the media and in the courts, drawing national attention because of Bello’s enduring influence in Kogi politics and Akpoti-Uduaghan’s emergence as one of his fiercest critics.
The former governor’s latest warning also comes as he continues to battle corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Bello before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged fraud and money laundering involving N110.4 billion. The EFCC alleges that the former governor, alongside other defendants, diverted public funds through multiple transactions, including payments for luxury properties and school fees, contrary to Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.
Bello has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, insisting that the case against him is politically motivated. The trial has since featured the testimony of prosecution witnesses, the presentation of financial and banking records, and legal arguments from both the prosecution and the defence as proceedings continue.