TheCable

Dino Melaye, a former senator, has been declared the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Kogi state. 

Melaye secured 313 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Idoko Ilonah, who got 124 votes.

Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna and chairman of the PDP’s electoral committee for Kogi governorship primary, announced the result on Sunday.

Melaye will face Ahmed Ododo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the governorship election scheduled to take place on November 11.

Last week, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, said Melaye does not have what it takes to be governor.

Wike said if Melaye wins the party’s ticket, he can’t defeat other candidates in the race to secure victory in the governorship election in November.

“When you give Dino that ticket you know he won’t win in Kogi state,” Wike had said.

“You’re talking about governance of a state, we are not talking about drama. Dino does not have what it takes. What is he going to do? Why would Kogi people say they will vote for Dino? Are we joking?”

But reacting to Wike’s claim, Melaye said the Rivers’ governor made the remarks against him because he did not persuade Atiku Abubakar to pick him as his running mate in the presidential election.

“Nigerians should not be fooled. That integrity and equity that he (Wike) is always clamouring, he does not possess one percent of it. He will tell you he wants a southern presidency, that is why he is fighting but that is a bogus lie,” Melaye said.

“Wike wanted to be vice-presidential candidate to Atiku. He (Wike) called me 19 times in two hours when Atiku was going to mention his vice-presidential candidate, lobbying me with everything possible to influence Atiku to announce him as his running mate. I have witnesses.”