Hundreds of aggrieved citizens from Kogi Central on Tuesday stormed the National Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, protesting the participation of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, in the recently concluded APC senatorial primaries in Kogi Central.
The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions condemning corruption, impunity, and alleged manipulation of party processes, called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to immediately disqualify Bello from emerging as the party’s senatorial candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Musa Adabara accused the former governor of attempting to “destroy the legacies and democratic principles of the APC,” insisting that Bello allegedly failed to comply with the party’s constitutional guidelines and screening requirements before the primaries.
According to Adabara, Yahaya Bello allegedly failed to appear before the APC senatorial screening panel and instead travelled to Lagos State during the exercise, only returning to Abuja after the screening process had reportedly concluded.
The protesters further alleged that the former governor deliberately avoided the screening exercise over fears of possible arrest or invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and other security agencies in relation to ongoing corruption and criminal allegations linked to his administration.
“We are calling on the APC leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to gamble the future of the party in 2027 by imposing Yahaya Bello on the people of Kogi Central,” Adabara declared before the crowd.
The group warned that handing Bello the APC senatorial ticket could trigger massive political backlash against the ruling party, particularly in Kogi State, where they claimed many citizens were still dissatisfied with the outcome of his administration.
They argued that the APC risks repeating what they described as the “mistakes and losses of the 2023 general election” if the party fails to uphold internal democracy and discipline.
“Kogi citizens say no to criminality, impunity, and failure to follow due process. Nobody should be above the constitution of the APC,” one of the protesters shouted during the demonstration.
The protesters also claimed that opposition parties and members of the public were already mocking the APC over what they described as an impending collapse of party credibility if individuals facing serious allegations are allowed to emerge as candidates under the party’s platform.
Security operatives were seen monitoring the protest around the APC National Secretariat to prevent any breakdown of law and order as demonstrators continued chanting anti-corruption slogans and demanding immediate intervention from the party leadership.
As of press time, the APC National Working Committee had yet to officially respond to the allegations raised by the protesters concerning Yahaya Bello’s participation in the Kogi Central senatorial primaries.