Kogi: PDP unveils Melaye as gubernatorial candidate
Dino Melaye
Audu, Ohiare dump Adeyemi, back Ododo
Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has unveiled Sen. Dino Melaye as its flagbearer in the November 11 governorship election in the state.
Party leaders across the three senatorial districts attended the ceremony, yesterday, in Lokoja.
After his presentation to party faithful, Melaye expressed appreciation to every member of the party for the confidence reposed in him, while promising not to disappoint them.
According to him, with its abundant mineral resources, enough to enrich the citizenry, Kogi has no business being poor.
“Kogi has over 42 untapped mineral resources. There is no reason Ajaokuta Steel Complex (ASC) should not be working. There is no reason we should depend on monthly federal allocation. All these will be brought to a halt when I become the governor through you in November.
“We have enormous resources and loose funds around the world waiting to be accessed. What you only need is enabling environment and ideas to access those funds. I will use my connection around the world to attract investment to the state,” the former lawmaker said.
Dino, who represented Kogi West twice in the Senate, was elected on April 15 by delegates with 313 votes, while his closest rival, Jabiru Usman, polled 127.
At the unveiling, former Governor Ibrahim Idris called on party faithful to rally behind Melaye, who he described as a formidable personality that will bring the state out of the woods.
IN the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Shaibu Audu, an aspirant in the direct primary election of April 14, 2023, has withdrawn the lawsuit he instituted against the party and the winner of the primary, Usman Ododo.
Audu, son of former Governor Abubakar Audu (now the late), said his decision to withdraw the case was in the interest of the party.
He spoke on Tuesday when he visited Governor Yahaya Bello in Abuja, just as another aspirant and the immediate past Executive Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Sanusi Ohiare, also declared “unalloyed support” for Ododo.
The duo had initially protested the outcome of the primaries along with Sen. Smart Adeyemi. But with their support for Ododo, Adeyemi seems to be on his own.
Audu commended Bello for his ingenuity and leadership in galvanising the party structure for unprecedented success in Kogi and assured the governor that their collective effort would guarantee Ododo’s victory.
Governor Bello, on his part, commended Audu for his sportsmanship, noting that the APC in Kogi had always been united, which had been the reason for the party’s electoral successes in the state.
