*4 other contenders screened out, 2 stepped down
Controversial Senator Dino Melaye has been won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial primary election in Kogi West for the 2019 general elections.
He was affirmed in a primary election conducted at the Prestige Hotel in Kabba, headquarters of the senatorial district.
The Returning officer for the exercise, Mr. Jude Sule, said Melaye scored all the votes of the 800 plus delegates from the seven council areas that constitute the district.
The exercise which was peaceful was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some security personnel.
Meanwhile, the affirmation of Dino Melaye came with some intrigues and twists as four other contenders in the race were not cleared by the party screening committee while two others stepped down for him to emerge unopposed.
Those not cleared for the primary includes; Rep. Sunday Karimi; former acting governor of the state, Clarence Olafemi; Henry Ojuola and Ganiyu Salaudeen.
The aspirants who stepped down for Melaye were former commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Tolorunjuwon Faniyi and the current reps member representing Kabba/Bunu/ Ijumu Federal Constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf.
Reacting after the exercise, Melaye said the affirmation was “shocking but not surprising” bearing in mind that he has represented the district wonderfully at the upper champer of the national assembly.
He said the decision of the party to endorse him will act as a tonic for him to work more for the district when he eventually wins his secord term bid.
He however appealed to all other aspirants who were aggrieved about his choice for the party to let go of their anger and join hands with him to rid the state and the country of the bad governance of APC, both at the state and national level.
Meanwhile, the senatorial election for Kogi Central Senatorial District was yet to commence as at 6.00 pm on Tuesday as committee members to conduct the exercise were yet to arrive with materials.
It was learned that the incumbent Senator, Ahmed Ogembe, who is the only one cleared for the primary, is expected to be affirmed by the delegates at the end of the day.
