Yahaya Bello

Yahaya Bello
A bespectacled Yahaya Bello
Governor of Kogi State
In office
27 January 2016 – 27 January 2024
Deputy
Preceded byIdris Wada
Succeeded byUsman Ododo
Personal details
Born
Yahaya Adoza Bello

(1975-06-18) 18 June 1975 (age 49)
Okene, Kwara State (now in Kogi State), Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress
Spouses
EducationMBA
Alma materAhmadu Bello University
Occupation
  • Politician
  • accountant
  • businessman

Yahaya Adoza Bello CON (// ; born 18 June 1975) is a Nigerian businessman, politician. He served as the governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024.[1] A member of the All Progressives Congress, Bello was the youngest governor in Nigeria throughout his term in office.

Born in Okene, Bello studied accounting and business administration at Ahmadu Bello University before entering the workforce in the mid-2000s. His political career began with a loss to Abubakar Audu in the APC gubernatorial primary in 2015. Audu won the election, but died on election day; Bello was selected to replace him as party nominee, and was sworn in the following year.[2] Four years later, Bello was elected amid reports of violence and fraud.[3][4] His profile rose during his term due to his relative youth compared to other Nigerian politicians and his controversial statements and questionable expenditures.[5]

  1. ^ Andrianna, Simwa (14 July 2017). "Yahaya Bello's biography, early stages and career". Legit.ng. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  2. ^ Alli, Yusuf. "APC picks Yahaya Bello as Audu's replacement". The Nation. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ^ Olasupo, Abisola; Erezi, Dennis; Omilana, Timileyin (18 November 2019). "APC's Yahaya Bello elected Kogi governor for second term". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2019 fraud was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Olonilua, Ademola (22 January 2021). "COVID-19: Five controversies of Kogi gov Yahaya Bello". The Punch. Retrieved 23 February 2022.