Dino Melaye, a former Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Senator who represented Kogi West in the National Assembly, has won the party’s ticket for the Kogi State Governorship Election scheduled for November 11, 2023.

Dino polled 313 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jabiru Usman who polled 127 votes.

The chairman, PDP primary Election Committee, Ahmed Makarfi announced the results on Sunday at conclusion of the indirect primary held in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

A former Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi scored 77 votes and the PDP governorship candidate in 2019, Musa Wada had a total of 56 votes.

Melaye will contest the November 11, 2023 poll alongside Usman Ododo, a former Auditor-General of Local Government in Kogi State, who is the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state. The incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello had days ago endorsed Ododo.

Melaye recently fired back at Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State who laughed off his aspiration to succeed Governor Yahaya Bello.