Momoh Yusuf Obaro, a senatorial aspirant in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Kogi Central, has formally petitioned the party’s Appeal Committee and the National Working Committee (NWC), alleging widespread irregularities and asking that he either be declared the winner or that the exercise be cancelled and rerun.
Obaro — who serves as APC secretary in the United Kingdom — lodged a detailed complaint contesting the integrity and conduct of the primary in which former Governor Yahaya Bello was declared the winner. In the petition, a copy of which was seen by this paper, Obaro accused organisers of procedural breaches, lack of stakeholder engagement, pervasive violence at polling points, and the participation of an individual he says was not cleared to contest.
Central to Obaro’s claim is an alternative tally he says was compiled by his agents at polling units across the senatorial district. He told the Appeal Committee that his team recorded 44,270 votes for him, while his two opponents polled 20,092 and 1,985 votes respectively. “We present these true figures herein and pray for the immediate nullification of the fraudulent results, a review of our evidence, and the recognition of the authentic, democratic will of the Kogi Central electorate,” the petition reads.
Allegations and evidence
Obaro’s petition lists several specific allegations:
• Participation of an uncleared candidate: The petition states that Yahaya Bello “ought not to have appeared on the ballot” because he was not cleared by the party’s screening committee for this exercise. Obaro says the presence of an uncleared individual vitiates the legality of the primary.
• Violence and intimidation: The document refers to multiple incidents of violence and cites official police reports of assault submitted with the petition.
• Procedural breaches and abscondment: Obaro alleges that returning officers left polling areas during the process and later reappeared with what he calls “concocted results.”
• Photographic and video evidence: The petitioners say they have photographic and video material that corroborates the figures collected by Obaro’s agents.
Relief sought
Obaro is asking the APC Appeal Committee and the NWC to either:
• Nullify the declared results and formally recognize the figures he says were legitimately collated from the field, thereby declaring him the party’s candidate for Kogi Central; or
• Order a fresh, transparent primary overseen by an independent committee, neutral federal security agencies and properly accredited INEC officials.
Party response and next steps
As of publication, the APC national secretariat had not issued a public response to Obaro’s petition and representatives of the former governor’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Under party rules, internal appeal channels are expected to examine such complaints; the Appeal Committee and the NWC can uphold the declared result, annul it, or mandate a rerun. Aggrieved aspirants may also seek redress in the courts if they are dissatisfied with the party’s internal outcome.
Political implications
The dispute heightens tensions within APC in Kogi state ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Bello, a dominant figure in state politics, has significant local influence; any sustained internal crisis could affect party unity and its prospects in the senatorial district.
Obaro’s petition is the latest in a string of intra-party challenges nationally as parties prepare for the general election. The Appeal Committee is expected to review the submitted evidence and announce its decision in the coming days.
