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Ex- Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was not cleared to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries after reportedly failing to appear before the party’s screening panel.

This is based on a list of screened APC senatorial aspirants from Kogi State, which emanated from the Kogi State Secretariat of the ruling party and was obtained.

Bello is currently facing two separate cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

One of the cases involves alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion in a 19-count charge.

The EFCC accused the former governor and others of criminal breach of trust and laundering funds allegedly diverted from the Kogi State treasury through multiple private accounts and luxury property acquisitions in Nigeria and Dubai.

The matter is being heard before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The trial has featured testimonies from several high-profile witnesses, including bank officials, who reportedly spoke about structured cash deposits allegedly designed to evade financial reporting requirements.

Bello is also facing a separate 16-count charge involving alleged fraud and breach of trust amounting to N110.4 billion.

In the second case, the EFCC accused Bello and two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, of diverting public funds belonging to Kogi State.

Party sources familiar with the screening process told SaharaReporters that the former governor deliberately stayed away from the exercise to avoid answering questions relating to the criminal allegations against him.

One of the APC sources in the state told SaharaReporters, “Yahaya Bello was not cleared by the APC. He didn’t participate in the screening exercise. He was disqualified.”

Another source said, “APC Kogi senatorial screening report shows Yahaya Bello isn’t cleared. This is because he didn’t want to be judged by question 7 in the APC senatorial form which has to do with the disclosure of ongoing criminal investigations. He is not cleared because of that.”

The source added, “The EFCC had laid ambush for him at the party secretariat in case he came for the screening, hence, he ran to Lagos.”

Bello, who is aspiring for Kogi Central Senatorial District, has been at the centre of multiple corruption allegations and ongoing legal battles involving alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.

Bello’s bid for the APC ticket for the Kogi Central Senatorial District has remained controversial due to his ongoing corruption trial and the political tensions surrounding his return to elective politics.

His legal troubles have drawn national attention after the EFCC declared him wanted in 2024 following repeated controversies over his arraignment and allegations that he was being shielded from arrest.

The former governor eventually appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Despite the ongoing trial, Bello’s ambition to represent Kogi Central in the Senate sparked criticism from opposition figures, civil society groups, and some members within the APC who argued that his candidacy could damage the party’s image ahead of the elections.

Critics have also questioned the morality of allowing a politician facing high-profile corruption charges to contest for public office while his trial remains unresolved.

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Gunshots disrupted the senatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo Central Senatorial District on Monday following the invasion of some voting centres by suspected political thugs.

The incident occurred in parts of Ondo State, particularly at Ward 5, Okelisa, Amudipe Street, Akure, where hoodlums reportedly attacked supporters of Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire.

Adegbomire, who is seeking the APC senatorial ticket, reportedly escaped unhurt after his vehicle came under gun attack during the chaos.

The suspected thugs were alleged to be loyal to one of the aspirants participating in the primary election.

Witnesses said the assailants fired several gunshots into the air and also shot at the senator’s vehicle before security operatives hurriedly evacuated him from the scene.

The development caused panic in the area as journalists covering the exercise, traders, and pupils of Ebenezer Primary School fled for safety.

The attackers were also said to have wielded machetes while assaulting voters and disrupting the counting process at the ward.

Speaking with journalists after the incident, Adegbomire alleged that the primary election was deliberately sabotaged.

The senator claimed the exercise appeared to be favouring him before the disruption occurred, alleging that thugs were deployed to prevent his supporters from participating in the process.

According to him, voting had commenced at his ward with supporters lining up behind their preferred aspirants before the violence erupted.

He explained that while the counting process was ongoing, the attackers stormed the venue, fired gunshots, attacked people with machetes, and disrupted the exercise.

Adegbomire further alleged that similar incidents were recorded in other parts of the senatorial district, claiming that some voters believed to be supporting him were prevented from accessing polling venues.

He also accused the perpetrators of using intimidation and violence to influence the outcome of the exercise.

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A popular former member of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Omorgie Ogbeide-Ihama has floored a serving Senator, Ned Imasuen and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu in Edo South Senatorial District All Progressives Congress APC primaries.

Ogbeide-Ihama, an Engineer who vied into politics two decades ago has a reputation of beating his political rivals seamlessly since 2015.

This he has exhibited again in the Edo South Senatorial District primaries flooring two political heavyweights in one swipe.

He was a two-term member of the HoR 2015-2023

Local Government Areas results:

Oredo: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,950

Imasuen: 1,974

Ize-Iyamu: 986

Ohuonmde: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 2,626

Imasuen: 1,314

Ize-Iyamu: , 657

Ovia North East: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,514

Imasuen: 1,759

Ize-Iyamu: 878

Ovia South West: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,263

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,065

Ikpoba Okha: Ogbeide-Ihama 5,517

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,378

Orhionwon: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,058

Imasuen: 1,529

Ize-Iyamu: 765

Egor: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,226

Imasuen: 2,114

Ize-Iyamu: 1056

Oredo: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,950

Imasuen: 1,974

Ize-Iyamu: 986

Ohuonmde: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 2,626

Imasuen: 1,314

Ize-Iyamu: , 657

Ovia North East: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,514

Imasuen: 1,759

Ize-Iyamu: 878

Ovia South West: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,263

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,065

Ikpoba Okha: Ogbeide-Ihama 5,517

Imasuen: 2,759

Ize-Iyamu: 1,378

Orhionwon: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 3,058

Imasuen: 1,529

Ize-Iyamu: 765

Egor: Ogbeide-Ihama polled 4,226

Imasuen: 2,114

Ize-Iyamu: 1056
[5/18, 3:47 PM] Emman Ovuakporie: Grand total: Ogbeide-Ihama 27,154

Imasuen: 13,580

Ize-Iyamu: 6,785