Bodejo’s Arrest: AGGA Warns APC Risks Losing the North Ahead of 2027

From:  Mustapha Aminu 

Abuja, The National Coordinator for Advocacy for Good Governance and Accountability (AGGA), Kayode Olawole, has condemned the arrest of Dr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo and accused the Taraba State Government of acting in a compromised manner. In a communique issued in Lagos on Monday, Olawole described the development as a deliberate attempt to damage the reputation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), not only in Taraba State but across the North and the country at large.

According to Olawole, the treatment being meted out to Alhaji Dr. Abdullahi Bello Bodejo by the Taraba State Government is both wrong and unacceptable. He argued that the repeated arrests and what he termed political witch-hunting amount to a misplaced priority that undermines the spirit of inclusivity within the ruling party. Rather than alienate such a figure, Olawole maintained, the government should engage him as a stakeholder whose influence could consolidate APC’s strength in the region.

Bello Bodejo, Olawole noted, is a respected leader with a wide following across Northern Nigeria. His grassroots mobilization capacity and political reach make him a key asset to the APC, particularly in a region where loyalty and community ties weigh heavily on electoral outcomes. Diminishing his standing, he warned, risks alienating millions of supporters who look up to him for direction and political alignment.

The AGGA coordinator further stressed that this development is not only unfair to Bodejo as an individual, but also sends a discouraging message to his supporters and sympathizers nationwide. He recalled that Bodejo contributed significantly to the success of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 general elections, and deserved to be treated with respect rather than subjected to political harassment.

Olawole cautioned that those behind the sustained targeting of Bodejo may be underestimating the wider implications. “They are not targeting Bello Bodejo alone,” he stated. “They are indirectly damaging the image of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the eyes of Northern Nigerians.” Such actions, he said, could erode the goodwill the party enjoys in the region if left unchecked.

If the situation is not urgently addressed, Olawole warned, it could have serious political consequences for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections. He stressed that Taraba State should not become a flashpoint where internal missteps weaken the party’s national standing. Instead, the leadership should act swiftly to restore confidence among its base and avoid giving opposition forces an opening to exploit.

The statement called directly on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and call the Governor of Taraba State to order. Olawole urged the President and his advisers to return to the drawing board and correct what he described as growing political missteps before they escalate further. He argued that decisive intervention now would demonstrate that the party values loyalty and cohesion over factional intimidation.

Concluding, Olawole reminded the APC leadership that the North remains united and politically conscious. “Its people do not forget either good deeds or bad actions,” he said. “History may repeat itself if lessons are not learned. Northerners may remain silent for now, but their response will be clearly expressed at the ballot box in 2027.”