Court to Rule on Yahaya Bello's Candidacy for Kogi Central

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a judgment for November 19 in a case contesting the senatorial candidacy of former Governor Yahaya Bello for Kogi Central, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC). The suit was initiated by Momoh Yusuf Obaro, an APC senatorial aspirant, who claims he won the May 18 primary election and seeks a court declaration to recognize him as the legitimate candidate.

Obaro has requested that the court compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish his name as the candidate. In response, Yahaya Bello contended that he won the primary with 72,399 votes, while Obaro received only 188 votes, placing last.

Bello argued that Obaro's claims were unfounded and that the suit lacked merit due to insufficient legal support. After final arguments were presented, the judge set the date for judgment.