Dino Melaye wins Kogi PDP gov ticket, says it’s collective victory

The People Democratic Party (PDP) Primary Election Committee, has announced Dino Melaye, as the governorship candidate of the Party for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State.

The Committee Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi said Melaye, a former Senator representing Kogi West gathered 313 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jabiru Usman, who polled 127 votes.

Makarfi on Sunday at the end of the indirect primary held in Lokoja further announced the scores of other aspirants in the race, a former deputy governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi, scored 77 votes; and the PDP governorship candidate in 2019, Musa Wada with 56 votes.

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In a statement made available to newsmen on Monday, Melaye noted that the primary outcome was not traceable to anyone’s strength in the state but a collective victory.

He said the outcome is the manifestation of a new spirit and purposeful coalition of all peoples across our beloved state.

While asking for forgiveness of all personal and corporate infractions in his political navigations, he lauded the leadership of the party, his co-contestants, and party members for their conduct in the primary.

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“I thank the leaders of our party (PDP)at the National, State, Local and ward levels, my dear brothers who advanced the cause of democracy in this contest and our numerous supporters who ensured that peace reigned, decorum prevailed, and conflicts were contained all through the process.

“As I savour this moment in humility, I return again to the scriptures. I recall the task and support that God gave to Moses to lead the people of Israel out of bandage to freedom. By the grace of God, our state will be liberated from the yoke of Yahaya Bello and APC. I also found a correlation between the new responsibility that God is placing on me and the responsibility that he gave to Gideon, who though felt unworthy, was qualified by God to deliver his people from the Gibeonites who had plundered their land and eaten their harvest.

“This shall be our experience in Kogi state. Furthermore, I think of Jephthah, who was despised and was called unserious. God has just proved that he takes my matter very seriously.

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“The outcome of today’s (Sunday’s) election is not traceable to the strength of anyone in our state. It is a collective victory; the manifestation of a new spirit and purposeful coalition of all peoples across our beloved state. I acknowledge especially the enormous energy and commitment deployed to this endeavour by my sister, Natasha Akpoti- Uduaghan, and her beloved husband. Your day of celebration is very near, by the grace of God.

“I recognise that contests of this nature are hardly devoid of offences. I ask for forgiveness for all personal and corporate infractions in all my political navigations.”