The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its final list of candidates for the Kogi Central, Kogi East and Kogi West senatorial districts ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections.
The publication confirms former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Kogi Central.
The final list contains 42 candidates across the three senatorial districts and provides details including the candidates’ names, political parties, ages, gender and academic qualifications.
Bello, 51, is among 10 other candidates listed to contest the Kogi Central senatorial seat. Other contenders include Suzan Jagbadi of the Accord Party, Muhammad Jatto of the African Action Congress (AAC), Babalawale Habib of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and Ogembe Salau Ahmed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Also in the race are Muhammed Aminu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Suleiman Isah of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Salau Muritala Audu of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Onuja Umar Sunday of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Bashir Yusuf of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The list also includes the incumbent senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is contesting for another term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s listed qualifications include a First School Leaving Certificate, Senior School Certificate Examination, and a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Bello’s emergence as the APC candidate followed months of political uncertainty surrounding his proposed candidacy, including concerns raised by some party stakeholders over his grassroots acceptability.
A group identified as the Kogi APC Renaissance Forum had earlier warned against his emergence, arguing that the former governor could face challenges in securing the senatorial seat.
Despite the controversies, Bello was cleared by the APC screening committee and subsequently emerged victorious at the party’s senatorial primary.
He reportedly polled 72,399 votes across the five local government areas in Kogi Central to defeat Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke, who scored 319 votes, while Momoh Yusuf Obaro received 188 votes.
In Kogi East, 17 candidates are listed to contest the senatorial election under various political parties. They include Ameh Erico Joseph of the APC, Ochija Berikisu of the Democracy for the Liberation of Africa, Ojogbane Paul Ilemona of the National Democratic Party and Muhammed Abdullahi of the PDP.
Kogi West has 14 candidates in the race, with the APC’s Karimi Sunday, the African Democratic Congress candidate Musa Ibrahim Ahmadu, and PDP candidate Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen among those listed.
The INEC document also indicates that none of the 42 candidates across the three senatorial districts was listed as a person living with disability.
The candidates’ ages range from 36 to 73 years.
The publication of the final list effectively sets the stage for what is expected to be a keenly contested battle for Kogi’s three senatorial seats in the 2027 elections.
