Dino Melaye, a former Senator who represented Kogi West in the National Assembly, has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for the Kogi State Governorship Election scheduled for November 11, 2023. Dino emerged victorious after polling 313 votes, defeating his closest rival, Jabiru Usman, who polled 127 votes.
The announcement of the results was made by Ahmed Makarfi, the chairman of the PDP primary Election Committee, on Sunday at the end of the indirect primary held in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. Dino’s victory was met with excitement and celebration among his supporters, who see him as a strong contender in the upcoming election.
Dino’s political career has been marked by his outspoken nature and controversial persona. He has previously served as a member of the House of Representatives and later as a Senator, representing Kogi West. He has been known for his vocal opposition to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and has been an active member of the PDP.
During the PDP primaries, Dino faced stiff competition from other aspirants, including Yomi Awoniyi, a former Deputy Governor, and Musa Wada, who was the PDP governorship candidate in the 2019 election. However, Dino’s popularity and wide-ranging support among PDP members in Kogi State helped him secure a convincing victory.
Dino will now face Usman Ododo, the candidate of the APC, in the November 11, 2023 poll. Ododo, a former Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi State, was endorsed by the incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello, just days before the PDP primaries. The upcoming election is expected to be closely contested, with both Dino and Ododo vying for the support of the electorate in Kogi State.
In a recent development, Dino fired back at Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who had mocked his aspiration to succeed Governor Yahaya Bello. Dino, known for his witty remarks and confrontational style, responded to Governor Wike’s comments, stating that he was undeterred by the criticism and was determined to win the governorship election in Kogi State.
As the November 11, 2023 election approaches, all eyes will be on Kogi State to see how the political landscape unfolds. With Dino Melaye securing the PDP ticket and Usman Ododo as the APC candidate, the race for the governorship seat in Kogi State promises to be a fierce battle, with both candidates vying for the support of the electorate.