Dino Melaye declares that he will seek PDP ticket for Kogi's November governorship elections

KOGI State's impending gubernatorial elections taking place on November 16 have taken a fresh dramatic twist after Senator Dino Melaye announced his candidacy yesterday revealing that he will seek the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) governorship ticket.

Currently the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Melaye, 45, decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last year and joined the PDP. In the last general elections that held in February, Senator Melaye was returned as a senator despite numerous controversies surrounding him, including police probes.

A fierce critic of Governor Yahaya Bello, Senator Melaye has long led the opposition to his government, which owes civil servants about 36 months wages. Highly criticised for his performance over the last four years, Governor Bello lives in Abuja rather than in Kogi State and has neglected social infrastructure like roads, schools and hospitals.

Already, numerous APC branches in Kogi State have asked the party's national leadership to field another candidate as if they stand by Governor Bello, they will lose the elections. Both the APC and PDP are due to hold primaries over the coming months, with the two winners going head-to-head in November.

If Governor Bello and Senator Melaye wins the nominations of their respective parties, it will make for an almighty showdown between two bitter political adversaries. Yesterday, senator announced his candidacy during a meeting at the residence of one of Kogi State's elder statesmen retired Major General David Jemibewon.

Gideon Ayodele, one of Senator Melaye's aides, said an that the senator was responding to the call from PDP leaders present at the meeting. Apparently, they asked anyone interested in contesting to signify their intention within two weeks and Senator Melaye responded there and then.

Mr Ayodele added: “At this point, Senator Dino Melaye stood up and informed the meeting of his intention to join the race to Lugard House, the seat of Kogi State government come November.”

At the moment, Senator Melaye is being prosecuted by the police for allegedly aiding violence in Kogi and for attempting to commit suicide while being taken to Kogi State from Abuja by the police. He reported jumped out of a police van while it was travelling and had to be hospitalised after sustaining injuries.