ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has issued a stern warning to political opponents ahead of the upcoming election cycles, vowing to directly confront those he characterized as political criminals who use the campaign season to launch verbal attacks against him.
Bello delivered the warnings in Abuja during a private Call to Bar ceremony hosted for the daughter of Hajia Habibat Tijani Onumoko, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and the current Kogi State Accountant General. The former governor's remarks come amid escalating political friction in the Kogi Central senatorial district as preliminary preparations for the 2027 general elections begin to intensify across the state.
Notably, Bello is currently navigating multiple high-profile trials initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of corruption, money laundering, and breach of public trust involving more than 110 billion Naira.
Addressing guests at the Abuja gathering, the former chief executive made no effort to conceal his plans to target dissenting voices within his traditional political base who oppose his interests during the campaign window. He warned political criminals within Kogi State, specifically those in Kogi Central, to get ready for an impending confrontation, stating that using the cover of an election season to malign his person would no longer be tolerated. Bello added that while he did not mention specific names, anyone who turned themselves into a political enemy or criminal would be dealt with accordingly, arguing that political campaigns do not justify defamatory rhetoric.
The controversial remarks drew swift condemnation from civil society organizations. A prominent peace advocacy group based in Kogi Central, "Justice and Order, Say No to Violence in Ebira land," released a statement rejecting the former governor's rhetoric. The group's spokesperson, Alhaji Oganya Abdurazak Mamman, stated that such inflammatory language directly undermines democratic principles, civil liberties, and the constitutional rule of law. The organization emphasized that a robust, free opposition is essential for institutional transparency and government accountability, warning that Nigeria's democratic space must not be allowed to degenerate into a system where peaceful dissent is treated as a criminal offense.
Furthermore, the advocacy network expressed deep concern over what it described as a recurring pattern of intimidation. The group reminded the public that similar rhetoric was deployed prior to the 2023 general elections, when opposition figures were threatened with extreme measures.
With another national election cycle approaching, the organization criticized Bello’s recent appeals urging the current Kogi State administration to arrest and prosecute critics under the pretext of maintaining public safety, labeling the strategy as an incitement to political violence and targeted persecution. Consequently, the group made a direct appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, and the judiciary to intervene, reminding the President that he was once a leading opposition figure who recognizes the vital role of critical voices in sustaining a healthy democracy.
