Former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has firmly denied harbouring any presidential ambition for the 2027 general elections, stating that he has no intention of contesting against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Friday and signed by his Media Director, Michael Ohiare, Bello expressed dismay over a circulating video clip from a 2022 rally, which some have falsely interpreted as the start of a new presidential campaign. The former governor described the claims as misleading and baseless.
“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.
Bello commended President Tinubu’s performance since taking office, noting that the administration had made significant strides despite facing global economic 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,” the statement added.
Ohiare condemned the resurfaced rally video and described the individuals behind it as mischief-makers intent on misleading the public and stirring unnecessary political tension.
“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 said.
He further criticized what he called a consistent campaign of falsehood by those bent on tarnishing Bello’s image and creating a rift between him and President Tinubu. “This latest slant of reposting a 2022 rally afresh and insinuating that it is just happening connotes nothing but sheer mischief,” Ohiare said.
He urged Nigerians to be cautious and discerning, warning against falling for deceptive narratives designed to create discord within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and distract from the government’s progress.
The statement concluded with a call to dismiss the viral post as a “desperate bid to create crisis where there is none.”
