By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was not cleared to participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries after reportedly failing to appear before the party’s screening panel.
This is according to a list of screened APC senatorial aspirants from Kogi State, which emanated from the Kogi State Secretariat of the ruling party and was obtained by Sahara Reporters on Monday.
Bello is currently facing two separate cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
One of the cases involves alleged money laundering amounting to N80.2 billion in a 19-count charge.
The EFCC accused the former governor and others of criminal breach of trust and laundering funds allegedly diverted from the Kogi State treasury through multiple private accounts and luxury property acquisitions in Nigeria and Dubai.
The matter is being heard before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The trial has featured testimonies from several high-profile witnesses, including bank officials, who reportedly spoke about structured cash deposits allegedly designed to evade financial reporting requirements.
Bello is also facing a separate 16-count charge involving alleged fraud and breach of trust amounting to N110.4 billion.
In the second case, the EFCC accused Bello and two co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, of diverting public funds belonging to Kogi State.
Party sources familiar with the screening process told SaharaReporters that the former governor deliberately stayed away from the exercise to avoid answering questions relating to the criminal allegations against him.
One of the APC sources in the state told SaharaReporters, “Yahaya Bello was not cleared by the APC. He didn’t participate in the screening exercise. He was disqualified.”
Another source said, “APC Kogi senatorial screening report shows Yahaya Bello isn’t cleared. This is because he didn’t want to be judged by question 7 in the APC senatorial form which has to do with the disclosure of ongoing criminal investigations. He is not cleared because of that.”
The source added, “The EFCC had laid ambush for him at the party secretariat in case he came for the screening, hence, he ran to Lagos.”
Bello, who is aspiring for Kogi Central Senatorial District, has been at the centre of multiple corruption allegations and ongoing legal battles involving alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kogi State.
Bello’s bid for the APC ticket for the Kogi Central Senatorial District has remained controversial due to his ongoing corruption trial and the political tensions surrounding his return to elective politics.
His legal troubles have drawn national attention after the EFCC declared him wanted in 2024 following repeated controversies over his arraignment and allegations that he was being shielded from arrest.
The former governor eventually appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Despite the ongoing trial, Bello’s ambition to represent Kogi Central in the Senate sparked criticism from opposition figures, civil society groups, and some members within the APC who argued that his candidacy could damage the party’s image ahead of the elections.
Critics have also questioned the morality of allowing a politician facing high-profile corruption charges to contest for public office while his trial remains unresolved.