A viral video making the rounds on social media has shown where former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, made newly elected State House of Assembly member, Hassan Shado, and his supporters sit on the floor during a meeting in Abuja.
At the meeting, the former governor warned them to strictly obey every dictate of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in the discharge of their duties.
Bello, who received members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence on Monday, was presented with Hassan Shado, the party’s lawmaker-elect for the Dekina-Okura II State Constituency, who won the August 16 by-election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Shado the winner of the by-election, polling 55,073 votes to defeat Godwin Meliga of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 1,038 votes.
In his address, the former governor tasked Shado with fostering synergy among party members, stressing that political victories were a collective achievement.
Drawing his ear for emphasis, Bello, in the video sighted by SaharaReporters, issued a stern directive to the lawmaker-elect to cooperate with everything in the Assembly, even if he does not understand them.
Bello said, “As you are going in there now, go and cooperate with the Speaker, other members of the House of Assembly of Kogi State, and be part of those that will support Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo; in everything that comes to the Assembly, everything, even if you don’t understand it.”
Aformer Gov. Yahaya Bello ordering members of Kogi State House of Assembly to sit on the floor and directing them to pass anything without questioning that comes from Usman Ododo.
And we have human beings defending this calamity as democracy?Nigeria will get to where it is… pic.twitter.com/GRPRSBrRcF
— Olóyè T.D Esq (@BolanleCole) August 22, 2025
The former governor said that no candidate can win an election without the backing of loyal party members and grassroots supporters working tirelessly, from nomination to the general election.
“Therefore, I urge you to ensure inclusivity, broad consultation, and collective leadership,” he said.
“You have been declared winner of this election. But remember, it was not by your effort alone.
“Your people stood firmly behind you; they worked for your success. Do not let them down in any way,” Bello stated.
He further called on the people of Kogi East to embrace unity, which he said had been lacking in the past.
“You have shown the spirit of togetherness and unity, which I believe was lacking in the past.
“The resounding victory at the polls is not just for Hon. Hassan Shado, but for all of you who stood united behind him,” he added.
Reaffirming APC’s strength and dominance, Bello expressed confidence that the party would retain all key political positions in the next general elections.
“I want to assure you that our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will be re-elected. Our Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, will be re-elected. And all our candidates will continue to win on the platform of our great party,” he declared.
How Bello Evaded EFCC Over Corruption Probe
Bello’s exit from office has been marked by controversy.
First, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Bello of diverting over N110 billion from the coffers of Kogi State during his eight-year reign. EFCC wasted no time in initiating legal proceedings, but Bello evaded the agency for months.
Despite repeated summonses, Bello refused to appear in court. From April 2024 onward, he stalled his arraignment on at least six occasions.
The EFCC even declared him wanted after a failed attempt to arrest him at his Abuja residence. That day ended in a confrontation between EFCC operatives and the security detail of Bello’s successor, Governor Ododo, which escalated into a shootout. Bello reportedly escaped in Ododo’s convoy.
As the legal pressure mounted, the courts grew impatient. Justice Maryanne Anenih of the FCT High Court ordered that hearing notices be pasted at Bello’s residence and on the court’s notice board, a public summons that gave him until November 17 to comply. Still, he remained elusive.
Then, in a twist worthy of a political thriller, Bello finally surrendered himself to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on November 26, 2024.
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