Yahaya Bello, a former Kogi State governor, has emerged as the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress despite his unresolved multi-billion naira corruption case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Mr Bello was declared winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Kogi Central Senatorial District on Monday.

Announcing the result of the primary election, the Returning Officer, Sadiq Mohammed, who monitored the exercise, said Mr Bello polled a total of 72,349 votes to defeat his challenger, Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke, who polled 315 votes, while Momoh Yusuf Obaro, the third contender, polled 188 votes.

Mr Bello secured thousands of votes across five local government areas. The former governor polled 18,341 in Adavi, 10,298 in Ajaokuta, 5,146 in Ogori, 8,943 in Okehi, and 29,621 in Okene.

With Monday’s victory, the former governor, who is enmeshed in a N190 billion trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is set to vie for the senatorial seat in the next election.

Mr Bello is charged alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu with a 16-count charge bordering on alleged property fraud to the tune of N110 billion.

Also, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Mr Bello is facing a 19-count charge of N80.2 billion fraud and money laundering.