Senator Dino Melaye was on Tuesday affirmed as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for the Kogi West Senatorial District ahead of the 2019 general election.
While four other contenders in the race were not cleared by the party screening committee, two others stepped down for Melaye, who just returned to the party.
Those who stepped down for Melaye were former commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs, Olorunjuwon Faniyi and the lawmaker representing Kabba/bunu/ Ijumu federal constituency, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf.
Those not clear for the primary included Sunday Karimi, member representing Yagba federal constituency, former acting governor of the state, Clarence Olafemi, Henry Ojuola and Ganiyu Salaudeen all from the Yagba federal constituency.
The primary was conducted at the Prestige Hotels in Kabba.
The Returning Officer for the exercise, Mr. Jude Sule said that Melaye scored all the delegates’ votes from the seven LGAs of Kogi West.
The exercise which was peaceful was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security personnel.
Melaye after the exercise, said the affirmation was “Shocking but not surprising bearing in mind that he has represented the axis wonderfully at the upper chamber of the national assembly.”
He however appealed to all other aspirants who might be aggrieved, 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.”
At Idah, Kogi East, venue of the PDP senatorial primary for the district, tension was said to be high, where seven aspirants including the incumbent Senator Attai Aidoko contested the shadow primary.
As at the time of filing this report, the exercise was yet to commence, and it I’d believed it will be postponed.
Senator Ahmed Ogembe, was reportedly affirmed as the PDP flag bearer for the district, though conflicting reports had it that other aspirants were waiting for the election materials from the party headquarters in Abuja.
Ogembe is the serving senator representing Kogi East.