Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been disqualified from participating in the APC senatorial primaries after failing to appear before the party’s official screening panel — a dramatic development that deals a significant blow to the embattled former governor’s political ambitions and further complicates his already turbulent legal and political situation.
The APC screening panel, set up to vet all senatorial aspirants ahead of the party’s primary exercise, disqualified Bello after he failed to present himself for the mandatory screening process — a fundamental requirement for all aspirants seeking to contest under the APC platform regardless of their political status or profile.
Bello’s absence from the screening exercise has sparked intense speculation across Nigeria’s political landscape — with analysts and party insiders questioning whether his no-show was a deliberate political decision, a consequence of his ongoing legal battles, or a reflection of deeper uncertainties surrounding his political future within the APC.
The former governor, who served two terms as Kogi State Governor from 2016 to 2023, has been embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of money laundering running into billions of naira — a case that has significantly dominated public attention and placed enormous pressure on his political and personal affairs.
Political observers note that Bello’s disqualification raises serious questions about his ability to participate meaningfully in the 2027 electoral cycle — particularly given the combination of his legal challenges and now his exclusion from the APC primary process that was expected to be his vehicle for a political comeback at the Senate level.
His supporters have expressed disappointment over the disqualification, with some alleging that the screening process was manipulated to deliberately exclude the former governor — claims that the APC panel is yet to formally address.
The APC leadership in Kogi State and at the national level are expected to issue a formal statement on Bello’s disqualification and the reasons behind his failure to appear before the screening panel in the coming days.
Yahaya Bello himself is yet to make a public statement on his disqualification at the time of filing this report — leaving supporters, political watchers, and opponents alike awaiting his response to yet another significant setback in what has been a deeply challenging period for the former governor.
CDA News Nigeria will continue to monitor and bring you updates on this developing political story.
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