A strong contest has broken out within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi Central Senatorial District as three prominent figures battle for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The main contenders are former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, businessman Chief Momoh Yusuf Obaro, and Ibrahim Adoke. Each has shown serious interest, with some already purchasing nomination and expression of interest forms.

Yahaya Bello, who recently picked up the APC nomination form, is seen by his supporters as a strong candidate with wide recognition and experience. However, some party stakeholders in Kogi Central have opposed his ambition, citing equity, fairness, and rotation of the seat. There are also reports of no consensus candidate, despite earlier claims that Bello had emerged as one.

Chief Momoh Yusuf Obaro, a Kogi-born businessman and economist from Okehi Local Government Area, was among the first to obtain the APC forms. He has been mobilising support at the grassroots level and has promised inclusive representation and faster development for the district if given the ticket.

Ibrahim Adoke is the third major aspirant in the race. Together with Obaro, he is being promoted by some APC members as a credible alternative to Bello.

The battle has created tension within the APC in Kogi Central. Some party members and groups have warned against imposing any candidate, calling for a fair and transparent primary. Issues of zoning, past governance records, and internal party divisions are dominating discussions.

Kogi Central is a strategic zone, currently represented by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC is determined to reclaim the seat in 2027, making the internal ticket battle very important.

As the contest heats up, all eyes are on how the APC leadership in the state and at the national level will manage the situation to avoid deep cracks that could affect the party’s chances in the general election.

The primary is still some months away, but the early moves by Bello, Obaro, and Adoke have already set the stage for a tough and interesting fight for the APC senatorial ticket in Kogi Central.