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Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has been cleared by the National Assembly screening committee to contest the primary scheduled for Monday in Kogi State.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee also approved Senator Sunday Karimi, including 17 other senatorial aspirants across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Bello, whose eligibility had been a point of speculation in recent times, was officially confirmed after his name appeared on the list of cleared aspirants for the Kogi Central Senatorial District race. The former governor is expected to battle Momoh Yusuf Obaro and Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke for the party’s ticket in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
In Kogi West, incumbent Senator Sunday Karimi emerged as the consensus candidate after a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Governor Usman Ododo at the Government House in Lokoja. Though six other aspirants, including former Senator Smart Adeyemi and Aro Bamidele, were also cleared by the committee, political observers say Karimi remains the frontrunner following the consensus arrangement.
In the Kogi East Senatorial District, seven aspirants were approved to contest the APC primary, including incumbent Senator Isah Echocho, Joseph Ameh, and Murtala Ajaka. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has got its House of Representatives candidates in Kogi through consensus arrangements across several federal constituencies.
Ex-lawmaker Abdulrahman Badamasuiy emerged as the PDP candidate for Okehi/Adavi Federal Constituency. He represented the constituency between 2011 and 2015. Candidates also emerging through consensus are Mohammed A. Etudaiye for the Okene/Ogori-Magongo Federal Constituency and Lawal Idrisu for the Ajaokuta Federal Constituency.
In Kogi West, Abdulkadir Ibrahim clinched the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency ticket, while Femi Victor Olubiyi emerged for Kabba/Bunu Federal Constituency. Ibigbemi Seun Samuel was returned unopposed for the Yagba Federal Constituency.
In Kogi East, Abubakar Yahaya secured the ticket for the Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency, while former lawmaker Okolo Ikani Benjamin emerged for the Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency through affirmation. Former Idah Local Government Chairman, Ukwenya Paul Ogwu, also emerged unopposed as the PDP candidate for the Idah Federal Constituency.
