By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
The crisis rocking the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new dimension as the APC Women Inclusive Forum has linked the ongoing controversy surrounding the party’s National Assembly primaries to the alleged Senate ambition of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its spokesperson, Oyiza Joy Simon, the forum alleged that Bello’s political calculations ahead of future National Assembly elections are responsible for the tension currently brewing within the party.
According to the group, the former governor is allegedly pursuing a strategic plan to secure a seat in the Senate with the long-term objective of contesting for the Senate Presidency.
The forum claimed that part of the alleged plan involves preventing the return of serving senators from Kogi West and Kogi East, whom it described as experienced lawmakers with proven records and strong support among party members.
“The facts are now clear. The former governor is back in active political maneuvering, not for party growth, but to pursue a personal ambition of leading the Senate. To achieve this, he is allegedly seeking to block the return of some of our most experienced and performing senators,” the statement read.
The group further alleged that Bello is aware of the Senate’s ranking tradition, which often gives returning lawmakers an advantage in leadership contests, and is therefore interested in ensuring the emergence of new faces loyal to his political camp.
The forum also claimed that efforts are being made to forge alliances beyond the APC as part of a broader political strategy aimed at advancing the former governor’s ambition.
Beyond the primary election dispute, the women’s group expressed concerns over what it described as plans to launch media attacks and political campaigns against individuals perceived as obstacles to the alleged agenda.
It called on leaders of the APC at both the state and national levels to safeguard the party’s internal democratic processes and prevent actions capable of deepening divisions within the party.
The allegations have added another layer to the growing debate over the future of the APC in Kogi State, where political stakeholders remain divided over recent developments surrounding the National Assembly primaries.
As of the time of filing this report, Yahaya Bello and his associates had not issued any official response to the allegations.
