Yahaya Bello to Tinubu: Don’t campaign in Kogi — no opposition here

Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, says President Bola Tinubu does not need to campaign for the 2027 elections in the state.

Speaking on Saturday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Kogi, Bello said the party has no opposition in the north-central state.

Bello described Kogi as a stronghold of the ruling party, adding that the president enjoys overwhelming support among the people.

“Your excellency, Mr president, you don’t even need to come to Kogi state to campaign in 2027. Don’t do any wahala [trouble] that you want to come to Kogi state to campaign for a second term. There is no opposition in Kogi state,” Bello said.

“Those who are making noise somewhere have not seen the lion. Congratulations Mr president. Every great nation must have a leader that everybody can gravitate towards.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you are that leader that all of us shall gravitate towards even after your second term in office.”

The former governor praised Tinubu’s leadership and commended his administration’s efforts in improving security, expanding infrastructure, and ensuring increased federal allocations to states.

“We thank Mr president for everything he has done for us in Kogi: appointments, infrastructure, fighting insecurity, more money and the rest,” he said.

Bello, who governed Kogi between 2016 and 2024, endorsed Tinubu and Usman Ododo, the governor of Kogi, for re-election.

Ahead of the 2027 polls, several figures in the APC have declared support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

In August, Umar Bago, governor of Niger state, proclaimed himself the director-general of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

Bago criticised politicians opposed to the south retaining the presidency in 2027, urging them to respect the country’s unwritten principle of power rotation.