The aftermath of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi State has seen Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dino Melaye expressing fury and demanding a refund from certain party members in the state.
News ToGo learned that this came to light after Melaye reportedly distributed N250,000 per polling unit during last Saturday’s election.
According to a report by SaharaReporters, a detailed breakdown of the PDP’s election expenses in the state reveals that N87 million was allocated for “voter’s mobilization,” a term interpreted as vote-buying. Additionally, N10,000 and N5,000 were budgeted for each Polling Officer and Assistant Polling Officer, respectively, in the election.
Sources disclosed that Melaye is incensed, alleging that he was defrauded by a PDP Local Government Chairman, his campaign Director-General, and others who failed to secure victory for him. According to one source, the funds were intended for vote-buying and were misappropriated by individuals at a gathering in Iyale at Hon Tom Zekeri’s house.
“He released N3,510,000 for thugs per polling unit in the name of local security; the money was diverted by a local government Chairman of the party called Alhaji Hussini Ejini. The senator is angry and asking for a refund,” the source stated.
Following the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, as the winner, citing the “margin of lead principle.” Ododo secured 446,237 votes, while Murtala Ajaka of the SDP and Melaye of the PDP scored 259,052 and 46,362 votes, respectively.
Melaye, who came in third, has called for the immediate cancellation of the gubernatorial election in the five local governments of Kogi Central: Okene, Okehi, Ajaoukuta, Adavi, and Ogori/Mangogo
