As Nigeria braces for the 2027 presidential election, the political landscape under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unraveling in ways that suggest a dramatic decline in support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) across key states, including Kogi and Kaduna. Political betrayals, alleged politically motivated prosecutions, worsening economic hardship, and a growing sense of disenchantment among the electorate have created a volatile storm that could cost Tinubu and his allies the presidency.
Tinubu’s Political Chess Game
According to inside stories, President Tinubu’s strategic politicking reportedly involved leveraging Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello to thwart Nasir El-Rufai’s ministerial ambitions. Bello was allegedly asked to influence Senator Sunday Karimi who opposed El-Rufai’s nomination during the Senate’s screening, citing national security concerns. This move deepened cracks in APC’s northern bloc.
However, Bello’s ambition to seek APC’s national chairmanship reportedly irked Tinubu, prompting a swift response. Soon after, the EFCC intensified probes into Bello’s financial dealings, signaling political retribution.
By the time the dust settled, El-Rufai was sidelined, Bello politically weakened, and Tinubu’s influence strengthened. Critics view it as a masterclass in power play, underscoring Tinubu’s deft control of party politics and his readiness to neutralize allies and rivals alike.
The Tumult in Kogi: Persecution or Politics?
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The EFCC’s trial of Yahaya Bello, the combative and influential outgoing governor of Kogi State, is being widely perceived as a calculated political persecution. Many observers tie the saga to Bello’s refusal to step down for Tinubu during the contentious APC presidential primaries in 2023. Bello’s bold presidential bid showcased his significant political clout and his ambition to emerge as a national leader—a stance that deeply rattled Tinubu’s camp.
Even after the primaries, Bello remained defiantly independent, withholding full-fledged support for Tinubu’s campaign in ways that created quiet but palpable tension. When Bello later aimed for the APC National Chairmanship following Tinubu’s inauguration, it was seen as a further challenge to the president’s consolidation of power. This ambition was swiftly quashed, and the subsequent EFCC investigations into Bello’s financial dealings are viewed by his ardent supporters as deliberate retaliation. The timing and intensity of the scrutiny, when juxtaposed with the impunity enjoyed by other APC powerbrokers, lend credibility to claims of selective justice.
Bello’s Deep Political Roots
Yahaya Bello’s influence extends far beyond Kogi State. His wide-reaching network, cultivated through strategic relationships with youth leaders, Northern elites, and grassroots organizations, makes him a potent force in Nigerian politics. Despite his polarizing image, Bello commands unyielding loyalty in Kogi, where he has constructed a formidable political machine. This network has grown even stronger with the election of… READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
