By Nahum Sule, Jalingo
Barely 48 hours after the arrest of frontline Taraba Central senatorial contender Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo by the Department of State Services (DSS), pressure is mounting on him to quit the race.
Bodejo was arrested in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on 7 May 2026 by DSS officials and flown overnight to Abuja, where he was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He remains in custody as of the time of filing this report.
Investigations reveal that two days into his detention, authorities approached Bodejo and advised him to withdraw from the contest as a condition for his release. He was also told to wait until the 2031 election cycle instead of contesting the 2027 senatorial seat.
Bodejo, who is also the National President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Association, has seen his campaign team react sharply.
His Campaign Director, Alhaji Adamu Isa, condemned what he described as the humiliating arrest of the aspirant “like a common criminal” in full view of his supporters. He noted that Bodejo, a strong All Progressives Congress (APC) member, had used personal resources and connections to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential elections.
“If some people are uncomfortable with Bodejo’s candidacy, they could have invited him for dialogue, rather than using security agents to intimidate him,” Isa said.
He added that while Bodejo, a peace-loving Nigerian, has the right to decide whether to stay in or exit the race, genuine dialogue must take place among all parties. He also revealed that the APC’s Consensus Committee never approached Bodejo for any meeting before his arrest.
Isa has appealed to the APC National Secretariat and key stakeholders to intervene, ensure justice, and secure Bodejo’s immediate release. He urged all supporters to remain calm and law-abiding.
