Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has firmly denied harbouring any presidential ambition for the 2027 general elections, reaffirming his loyalty and commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday by his Media Director, Michael Ohiare, Bello described as misleading and mischievous a recently circulated video suggesting he had launched a fresh presidential campaign.
The video, which has been widely shared across social media platforms, features a 2022 campaign rally that some mischief makers repackaged to imply a current political move against President Tinubu.
“While we state categorically that our principal, Bello, has no 2027 presidential ambition, we want to also stress his unflinching commitment to the re-election of President Tinubu come 2027,” the statement read.
Ohiare condemned the viral post, describing it as the handiwork of "a confused, witless mind" and a desperate attempt to sow division between Bello and the President.
“The fabricators forgot that the 2022 dates are boldly written on the banners on display. Yet, they expect reasonable people not to see this as the handiwork of detractors,” he added.
Bello’s camp believes the smear campaign is part of a long-standing pattern by political opponents trying to tarnish his image and pit him against the current administration.
“This is not the first time such detractors have flown absolute falsehoods to create friction between our principal and President Tinubu,” Ohiare stated.
He accused those behind the video of working under the instructions of unseen paymasters, with the singular aim of destabilizing the political harmony within the ruling party.
“The post is a senseless fabrication aimed at creating a crisis where none exists. Nigerians should be wary of such desperate tactics,” the statement warned.
Reiterating Bello’s admiration for Tinubu’s leadership, Ohiare praised the President’s performance so far in office, citing his bold reforms and resilience in the face of global challenges.
“The indices cannot lie. The President and his team have done exceedingly well for the country. On merit, he deserves the support of well-meaning Nigerians,” he concluded.
With this latest clarification, Yahaya Bello joins other party loyalists in publicly endorsing President Tinubu’s potential second term, putting to rest speculations about a looming rivalry within the All Progressives Congress (APC).