The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the 2023 Kogi State governorship election, Alhaji Yakubu Murtala Ajaka, has described recent political activities by former Governor Yahaya Bello as calculated attempts to mislead the people of the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Daily Trust reports that Yahaya Bello, alongside Governor Usman Ododo, held an event in Lokoja at the weekend where they endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
Speaking during the endorsement rally, Bello described Tinubu as an “angel sent by God” to restore and transform Nigeria.
SPONSOR AD
However, in a statement issued on Sunday, Ajaka said Bello’s political manoeuvres were “mere theatrics,” adding that Kogi people are now politically aware and would no longer be swayed by deceit or intimidation.
He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need what he called Bello’s brand of “manipulative politics” to win the trust of Nigerians but should instead focus on genuine performance and credibility.
“President Tinubu doesn’t need deceit or intimidation to earn the trust of Nigerians. What he needs is performance and credibility,” Ajaka said.
The SDP chieftain questioned Bello’s political relevance, recalling that the former governor was unable to deliver his senatorial district in the last general elections.
“It is laughable that someone who couldn’t even deliver his senatorial district during the last election now claims he can deliver Kogi in 2027,” he said.
Ajaka maintained that Kogi people would vote based on performance rather than fear or manipulation, adding that a new generation of politically conscious citizens was ready to shape the state’s political direction.
“When the time is right, credible individuals with true political voice and moral standing will rise to deliver the President and the state to a better future. The era of deceitful politics and intimidation is over,” he added.
Ajaka, who contested against Bello’s preferred candidate in the 2023 governorship election, is a vocal critic of the former governor’s leadership style, often accusing him of divisive politics and poor governance.
