An aspirant for the Taraba Central Senatorial District seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bello Bodejo, has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja following his arrest in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Papers News reports that Bodejo, who is also the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, was reportedly arrested on Thursday night after arriving in Jalingo through the Danbaba Suntai Airport.
According to Daily Trust, the APC aspirant was picked up by security operatives shortly after his arrival in the state capital.
His personal aide, Malam Umar, confirmed to journalists in a telephone interview that Bodejo had been moved to Abuja and handed over to the EFCC.
Umar said the family had not been informed of the exact offence allegedly committed by the senatorial aspirant.
He explained that Bodejo was arrested after some political associates accompanied him to the security agency’s office in Jalingo.
The aide said the development had created concern among Bodejo’s supporters, especially as the screening of aspirants for elective positions was ongoing.
He alleged that the arrest was politically motivated and linked it to what he described as Bodejo’s growing popularity in the Taraba Central Senatorial Zone race.
Umar further alleged that the arrest was designed to prevent Bodejo from participating in the APC screening exercise for aspirants seeking governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives tickets.
He accused some key government officials and politicians in Taraba State of being behind the arrest.
“As I am talking to you now, the screening of aspirants for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives seats is about to be concluded, and the aim of those behind the arrest is to prevent him from participating in the screening exercise,” he told Daily Trust.
The aide maintained that Bodejo’s camp had yet to receive any official explanation on the allegations against him.
The arrest has heightened tension around the APC senatorial contest in Taraba Central, where Bodejo is seeking the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His supporters claimed that the circumstances surrounding the arrest raised questions, particularly because it happened during the period set aside for screening of aspirants.
They argued that the development could affect his participation in the internal party process if not quickly resolved.
As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
