Nigeria, Sept. 14 -- Former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, said ex-Governor Yahaya Bello assured him for years that he would succeed him, only to back current governor Usman Ododo, on the eve of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in 2023.

Speaking on the MIC ON podcast at the weekend, Mr Onoja, who served as Mr Bello's chief of staff before becoming his deputy, said the former governor repeatedly told him to prepare for succession.

"For four years before 2023, he (Bello) was the one who called me and said, 'You will succeed me, get prepared,'" Mr Onoja said.

Mr Onoja said Mr Bello later encouraged several cabinet members to purchase APC nomination forms before informing him privately that his support was for Mr Od...