– Dino Melaye wins Kogi PDP governorship primaries
There seems to be a crack within the ranks of the All Progressieve Congress (APC) in Kogi State as another candidate is laying claim to the Governorship ticket of the party.
One Alhaji Muri Mutala Ajaka in a statement said he was the authentic candidate of the party having allegedly scored 356,241 votes to defeat governor Yahaya Bello annointed candidate ,one Usman Ododo who scored 74,027 votes in the party’s primaries that held across the wards in Kogi State on Friday being 14th April 2023.
Ododo, who scored a total of 78,704 votes, won the direct primary election with a wide margin to defeat six other contestants in the governorship race.
About seven other aspirants including the state’s deputy governor, Edward Onoja, Governor Yahaya Bello’s Chief of Staff, Pharm. Mohammed Asuku, had earlier withdrawn from the gubernatorial race on the eve of the primary election.
Ododo, defeated a fellow Egbira man the Barr. Mohammed Ozigi Salami, who scored 1,506 votes while the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, scored the least number of votes – 311.
The secretary of the Kogi State APC Primary Election Committee, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, on behalf of the chairman of the panel, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, announced the results and declared Mr. Ahmed Usman Ododo as the winner of the gubernatorial primary election.
However, drama started when the committee that conducted the election was induced and forced by the Governor of the State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to announce his annointed candidate, Usman Ododo, as the winner of the said election.
Speaking to the media, a close supporter of Alhaji Muri Mutala Ajaka, he said, ” our Candidate has emerged as the winner and there is nothing Bello can do about it.
From the result in 14 Local Government Areas out of 21, it showed clearly that Alhaji Muri Mutala Ajaka is the choice of the people.
It may interest the general public to know that Alhaji Muri Mutala Ajaka against all odds won in the following 14 LGAs: Idah, Ibaji, Bassa, Dekina, Igala-Mela, Ofu, Olamaboro, Ankpa, Ajaokuta, Kabba Bunu, Lokoja, Koton Karfe, Ogori Magogo and Yagba West”
The added, ” Governor Yahaya Bello who inherited late Prince Abubakar Audu’s vote under APC cannot continue to force his will on the good people of Kogi State”.
He said, “as it is now, Alhaji Muri Mutala Ajaka is the authentic candidate of the APC as the will of Bello cannot over ride five million Kogites”.
He however, thanked Kogites for voting Alhaji Muri Mutala Ajaka saying, it is a new dawn in Kogi State as he will not let them down.
Meanwhile ,former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye has been declared winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Kogi state.
Former Kaduna Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, leading a seven-man committee, conducted the governorship primary election for the party.
Melaye defeated his challengers; former Deputy Governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi, former senator Attai Aidoko, Kebiru Usman and Abdullahi Haruna to clinch the ticket.
Others are Zakaria Alfa, Musa Wada, Bolu Femi, and Idoko Idah.
Melaye will face candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Usman-Ododo in the governorship election scheduled to take place on November 11.
Dino Melaye wins Kogi PDP governorship primary election
Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye has emerged candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming 11 November Governorship election in Kogi State.
In a Congress held at Kefas Multipurpose Hall, Lokoja, on Sunday, 16 April, Melaye pulled over fifty percent of the votes cast.
Former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi who conducted the poll said Melaye scored 313 votes to beat his closest rival Ilona Idoko Idris who had 124 votes.
The atmosphere was tension soaked with earlier protests over the delegates list. The process however went on smoothly, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Hon Kabiru Usman garnered 121 votes while former Deputy Governor, Awoniyi scored 77 votes and the PDP governorship candidate in 2019 Engr