The All Progressives Congress is facing public criticism after clearing former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to contest its senatorial primaries despite ongoing corruption trials.
Both men won their respective primaries on Monday and are now set to contest for Senate seats in 2027. Okowa secured the APC ticket for Delta North, while Bello won in Kogi Central.
Okowa is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of diverting ₦1.3 trillion in oil derivation funds allocated to Delta State between 2015 and 2023. The EFCC also alleges he failed to account for ₦40 billion reportedly used to acquire an 8% stake in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas, and diverted state funds to buy property in Asaba and Abuja.
He was arrested in November 2024 and later defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC. The EFCC maintains the case remains active and that his defection provides no immunity.
Bello faces two cases: a 19-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged ₦80.2 billion diversion from the Kogi treasury, and a 16-count charge at the FCT High Court involving ₦110.4 billion. The EFCC accuses him of laundering state funds through bureau-de-change operators and linked companies, and of using state funds to pay his children’s school fees in advance.
Bello denies the charges, calling them politically motivated. He has repeatedly evaded arrest and stalled arraignment, leading to standoffs with the EFCC at his Abuja residence and the Kogi Government Lodge.
The APC’s decision to clear both men has drawn sharp reactions.
Political scientist Prof. Abdullah Abubakar said the outcome “is a testament to the long-held belief by many Nigerians that this administration is a hub of corruption.” He added, “Politicians standing trial for high-profile corruption cases are being given a clean bill of health to run for a place at the National Assembly to represent the same people whose money they looted.”
Civil servant Biodun Agunbiade said Okowa’s victory over Senator Ned Nwoko showed “Nigeria is finished,” and called the APC “a comedy of error.”
Activist Desmond Atake said the party was “rewarding” politicians with pending corruption cases, arguing they “ought to have been ostracized from politics.” Data analyst Wilson Okonkwo described Okowa’s win as “government giving official backing to corruption.”
Political analyst Ahmed Walata questioned why the EFCC had not charged Okowa to court after concluding investigations, and contrasted Nigeria’s handling of corruption cases with practices in China, Japan, Europe, and the U.S.
The EFCC has not publicly commented on the primary results. The commission has previously said that political affiliation does not halt investigations.
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