Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has formally entered the race for the Kogi Central Senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections, accepting nomination forms presented by women support groups at his Abuja residence.

The development sets up a high-stakes rematch between Bello and the incumbent, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in what is shaping up as one of Nigeria’s most fiercely contested senatorial battles.

On May 2, representatives of women support groups presented the APC senatorial nomination and expression of interest forms to Bello at his Abuja home, urging him to run for the seat. Public reports do not specify the precise cost of the APC nomination package for the 2027 cycle, but the purchase of forms by support groups is a common practice for prominent aspirants.

Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, formally declared his intention to contest the Kogi Central Senatorial seat on December 30, 2025, during a visit to the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland. Addressing traditional rulers, religious leaders, and key stakeholders, he stated: “I accept to run for the Senate in 2027”. The event was attended by the current Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, alongside other political figures and community leaders.

The incumbent and first female senator to represent Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, is seeking re-election for a second term. On April 27, 2026, she made her declaration at a stakeholders’ meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi Central. In a subsequent social media post, she wrote: “With deep gratitude, I hear your call and overwhelming endorsements to contest for the 2027 Kogi Central Senatorial Elections. My response is ‘YES'”.

The two political figures have a long-running rivalry. Akpoti-Uduaghan defeated Bello’s anointed candidate, Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the APC, in the 2023 senatorial election. The Independent National Electoral Commission initially declared Ohere the winner, but an election petition tribunal nullified the result and declared Akpoti-Uduaghan the winner.

Since Bello announced his bid, the senator has dismissed any threat to her political career. Speaking through her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko, she said: “We don’t see it as a threat. In fact, we are happy that he wants to contest. We are waiting for them”.

The political contest is set against a backdrop of ongoing legal battles. On April 23, 2026, the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja awarded N1 billion in damages against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan in a defamation suit filed by Bello. The court ruled that an interview granted by the senator on Arise TV on November 4, 2022, in which she allegedly described Bello as “a murderer, killer, perpetrator of evil acts, and a terror to the people of Kogi State,” was defamatory and without justification. The senator has said she will not pay the damages.

Meanwhile, Bello is currently facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of criminal breach of trust and money laundering. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Bello on a 19-count charge involving N80.2 billion. On April 24, 2026, the court adjourned the case to May 6 and 7 for continuation of cross-examination of the 12th prosecution witness. Bello has consistently denied all charges, describing the cases as politically motivated.

Additionally, some APC stakeholders in Kogi Central have expressed concerns over Bello’s ambition, warning that it could breed resentment and anarchy as witnessed in the 2023 election.

The 2027 Kogi Central senatorial contest is one of Nigeria’s most closely watched political battles. It pits a former two-term governor with formidable political machinery against an incumbent senator who has built a reputation for grassroots mobilisation and defiance against established political structures.

Political observers note that the outcome will likely have implications that extend beyond the district into the national political landscape, helping determine which party controls the critical senatorial district and shaping political realignments in Kogi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.