All Progressives Congress (APC) youth leaders have accused unnamed party stalwarts of being behind the persecution of the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged politically motivated reasons.

The youth leaders from across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of APC Youth Leaders Forum (AYLF), wondered why those, who had contributed immensely towards the development of the party, as well as helped in securing the presidency for Bola Tinubu, have been singled out for persecution and undue harassment.

In a statement jointly signed by the forum’s National President, Alhaji Abdullahi Danbaba, and National Secretary, Dr Chike Ihedioha, AYLF insisted that some individuals were bent on destroying the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The AYLF is a youth mobilisation network registered with the national secretariat since the creation of the ruling party.

According to the youth leaders, records were clear that the former governor had been on the side of the law since the beginning of the case.

It alleged: “His achievements in Kogi State are there for all to see within the period he was there as governor, and there have been many testimonies to this fact. Those who are using the EFCC against him have forgotten that there are people that the EFCC should go after if we must sanitise this country that has been ignored.

“We must save this administration from ridicule by our detractors. Those who are afraid of one thing or the other before the 2027 elections are also sponsoring articles in the name of dubious APC groups to discredit the former governor. But Nigerians are not fools. They can identify genuine claims.”