A former senator, Dino Melaye, has emerged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State.

Melaye, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 8th Senate, defeated other aspirants in the keenly contested primary election on Sunday, April 16.

The former lawmaker polled 313 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Idoko Ilonah, who got 124 votes in the direct mode primary election in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Sunday, April 16.

The Chairman of the PDP Primary Election Committee, Ahmed Makarfi, who announced the results, said the primary election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

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Makarfi said other contestants in the race included Mohammed Kabiru who scored 121 votes, Abayomi Awoniyi-Sunday garnered 77 votes, and Wada Musa who polled 56 votes.

Other contestants were Ojaja Gideon-Enama, who polled five votes, and Olufemi Olarewaju who scored two votes

Makarfi added that the primaries recorded six void votes.

“On behalf of the PDP primary election committee, I wish to congratulate Dino Melaye, the winner of the primary.

“I thank the state party leaders and members for their cooperation and support toward a peaceful primary election,” he said.

Melaye will contest the election alongside Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is the incumbent Auditor-General of Kogi State.

The Star