Dino Melaye announces himself as a candidate for Kogi's forthcoming gubernatorial elections

FORMER Kogi West Senatorial District lawmaker Senator Dino Melaye has indicated that shall be a candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections where he will be seeking the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Controversial Senator Melaye, 49, who represented Kogi West in the National Assembly between 2015 and 2019, used to be a member of the ruling Al Progressives Congress (APC) but defected to the PDP in 2018. he was a leading member of the PDP's presidential campaign committee last month, acting as a spokesman for their candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Kogi State will go to the polls on November 11 to elect a new governor to replace incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello, whose second term is about to come to an end. Usually, the contest is a two-horse race between the APC and the PDP and so far, about 29 candidates from both parties have expressed an interest in the position.

Under the election timetable that has been releases, the primaries for the two parties are expected to be completed by April 17. So far, 19 people had declared an interest in the APC ticket, while 10 people have expressed a wish to contest under the platform of the opposition PDP.

APC aspirants include Abdulkareem Mohammed Jamiu, Dr Sanusi Ohiare, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, Ahmed Usman Ododo, Salami Momodu Deedat,  Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, Halima Alfa, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Prince Shauibu Abubakar Audu, Senator Yakubu Oseni, Momoh Jibrin, Yusuf Yakubu Okala, Hon Asiru Idris, Edward David Onoja, Professor Stephen Ikani Ocheni, Abubakar Yahaya Achimugu, Idachaba Friday, Salawudeen Abdulkudus and David Jimoh. PDP aspirants include Senator Attai Aidoko, Kebiru Usman, Abdullahi Haruna, Reuben Atabo, Gideon Ojata, Musa Wada, Bolu Femi, Senator Dino Melaye, Yomi Awoniyi and Idoko Lona.

Senator Melaye has released a campaign poster captioned No More Stealing and Killings, announcing his candidacy. Posted on his official Twitter handle, the message is a reference to the administration of Governor Bello, one of Senator Melaye's fierce political rivals.