2023: Governor Yahaya Bello shuts PDP office in Okene

Report indicates that the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has shut down the central office of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

According to Sahara Reporters, the office was allegedly closed in order to stop Natasha Akpoti’s campaign for Senate.

Recall that Akpoti ran for the post of senator for Kogi Central Senatorial District under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2019. She also joined the governorship race for Kogi state thereby challenging Bello.

However, in May this year, Akpoti won the PDP primary election for the 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial District, to go against the ruling APC’s Abubakar Ohere, among others.

A source quoted in the report said:

“As a way to clamp down on the opposition, Yahaya Bello shut down PDP’s central office in Kogi to stop Natasha Akpoti’s campaign for Senate. Natasha is from Okene and that is her strong base.”

Also confirming the shutdown, another source quoted in the report, recounted how Bello had publicly warned the opposition that he would give them hell ahead of the elections.

A notification letter signed by the Chairman, Okene Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulrazak M. Yusuf, ordered the PDP to vacate the office, as he cited security concerns as the reason for the clampdown.

Part of the letter read: “As part of measure to rejig our security architecture, you are by this notice given one (1) week to vacate your proposed party (PDP) secretarial in Okene.

“The decision was informed by what the security committee considered as the proximity of your proposed party secretariat as a threat to some critical infrastructures like; the Ebira Central Mosque and the Council Secretariat which when the political activities heat up it will distort the peaceful activities in this vicinity.

“Let me state emphatically that, the council is not taking this decision as a play to dabble into your party affairs and our action must not be misconstrued as such. Thank you.”

BS