Former Governor Yahaya Bello and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan are not mere competitors; they are entrenched adversaries whose prolonged feud has not only shaped political narratives in Kogi State but also the entire North Central region. For this, they have become one of the most discussed arch-rivals in the country’s political landscape.
Many would recall the fierce battle fought in 2023 between the two gladiators when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Bello’s anointed candidate, Abubakar Sadiku-Ohere of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to emerge senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared the APC candidate as the winner of the election. But dissatisfied, Natasha approached the tribunal with a petition seeking to nullify the victory of Sadiku-Ohere.
The election petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja subsequently nullified Ohere’s election and declared Akpoti-Uduaghan as the winner.
As the nation approaches another election cycle in 2027, the two may be in for another round of battle. The latest encounter, which began with quiet manoeuvring behind party curtains, has eventually exploded into a fierce ideological and power confrontation.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and the former governor are now locked in a high-stakes, no-holds-barred contest for the soul and future of Kogi Central Senatorial District ahead of 2027.
On one side stands Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan—an insurgent force riding on popular legitimacy, grassroots mobilisation, and a growing narrative of resistance against entrenched political overlords. Her camp projects a politics of defiance, reform, and people-driven mandate, challenging the old order and confronting political godfatherism head-on.
On the other side is Bello, the former governor and political war general, commanding a hardened structure forged through years of executive control, party dominance, and strategic patronage. Bello’s political machinery remains formidable—deep-rooted, well-funded, and battle-tested—ready to reclaim influence and reassert supremacy in Kogi Central.
Bello is no stranger to political combat. He emerged in 2016 as Nigeria’s youngest governor at the time, riding on the platform of the APC to govern Kogi state for eight turbulent years.
His tenure was characterised by firm control of party structures, aggressive political manoeuvring, and a leadership style that earned him both a devoted following and fierce criticism.
Now out of office, Bello’s decision to seek the Kogi Central Senate seat is widely interpreted as a strategic move to retain political relevance, consolidate influence in Ebira land, and reposition himself within national power calculations.
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