Yahaya Bello Cleared for APC Kogi Central Senate Primary

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been officially cleared by the All Progressives Congress to contest the party's primary election for the Kogi Central Senatorial District. The primary is scheduled for Monday.

Bello's clearance ends days of speculation regarding his eligibility. He will compete for the party's ticket against two other aspirants: the APC Diaspora Secretary, Momoh Obaro, and Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke. The APC's National Assembly screening committee approved a total of 17 senatorial aspirants across the state's three districts for the upcoming primaries.

In Kogi West, incumbent Senator Sunday Karimi has emerged as the consensus candidate following a stakeholders' meeting. Six other aspirants in that district were also cleared, though political observers note Karimi is considered the frontrunner. For Kogi East, seven aspirants, including incumbent Senator Isah Echocho, were cleared to contest.

This development is part of a broader trend where the APC is utilizing consensus arrangements to select candidates. Party officials have indicated that state governors have been empowered to lead candidate selection processes in their domains.