In politics, fear is the most honest confession. When opponents suddenly become obsessed with one individual, it is never accidental. It is strategic anxiety. The sustained fixation on Yahaya Bello is clear evidence that the oppositions understands the truth they are unwilling to admit publicly: Bello remains one of the All Progressives Congress’ most potent political forces in Kogi State and beyond.
Yahaya Bello is feared not because of noise but because of structure. While many politicians outsource relevance to fleeting social media outrage, Bello invested in something more enduring, grassroots political machinery. From wards to polling units, from youth blocs to party elders, his political footprint is deeply embedded. Such influence does not evaporate with office; it consolidates, matures, and expands.
This reality explains the discomfort within opposition ranks. Bello is not a ceremonial party figure. He is a mobiliser, a strategist, and a political organiser who understands the arithmetic of elections, not merely the grammar of press releases. His presence reshapes political calculations, disrupts opposition strategies, and re-energises the APC base at critical moments.
The smear campaigns, media distractions, and repeated attempts to isolate him are therefore not moral crusades; they are pre-emptive political strikes. The opposition fears a scenario where the APC national leadership fully synchronises with Yahaya Bello’s grassroots strength. In that scenario, Kogi State becomes sealed territory for APC and a dependable delivery point for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is where the APC deserves clear commendation. In a political environment where parties often abandon their strongest assets under pressure, APC has demonstrated uncommon political maturity. Rather than surrender to opposition narratives or media hysteria, the party has consistently aligned with Bello, recognising his value as a loyal party man, an organiser, and a field-tested strategist.
In Nigerian politics, consistency is power, and APC’s strategic loyalty has paid dividends. While opposition parties stagger from one internal crisis to another, APC has chosen consolidation over confusion, structure over sentiment, and results over rhetoric. This clarity is precisely why the party continues to dominate key battlegrounds.
Yahaya Bello understands Kogi politics at its most granular level. Elections are not won in television studios or online comment sections; they are won on the ground. Bello’s network delivers votes, not hashtags. That truth terrifies the opposition because it exposes their greatest weakness: a lack of structure, discipline, and local legitimacy.
At the national level, the implications are unmistakable. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political success has always rested on strategic alliances, loyal foot soldiers, and disciplined party machinery. APC’s continued alignment with Yahaya Bello fits squarely within this tradition. It signals foresight, seriousness, and an understanding that loyalty and structure remain non-negotiable in modern Nigerian politics.
For Kogi State, the message is clear. With APC and Yahaya Bello firmly aligned, the state remains securely within the party’s column. The opposition knows that once Bello’s structure is fully activated in harmony with the national leadership, their pathways to victory in Kogi narrow dramatically. Hence, the panic, the propaganda, and the coordinated resistance.
Politics rewards courage and clarity. APC has shown both by standing with Yahaya Bello and recognising his strategic importance. The result is a party that appears prepared, grounded, confident, and an opposition that looks unsettled and reactive.
In politics, relevance is measured by resistance. The louder the attacks, the clearer the threat. APC’s enemies fear Yahaya Bello because they understand what he brings to the table: victory through structure, loyalty through leadership, and power through organisation.
As national political contests approach, one fact stands firm: APC’s alignment with Yahaya Bello is not just good politics. It is smart politics. And it may well prove decisive in delivering Kogi State convincingly for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.
– Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene.
