Kogi APC Chairman Labels Dino Melaye A Political Joker

The Chairman of All Progressive Congress in Kogi State, Abdullahi Bello had mocked Dino Melaye, the People’s Democratic Party candidate in the recent off-cycle election.

During an exclusive chat with Arewa PUNCH, the APC chairman also known as ‘Dollar’ has labeled Melaye as a political joker, lacking the experience needed to secure victory in the November 11 governorship poll in Kogi.

Abdullahi Bello pointed out that, considering Melaye’s background as a former lawmaker in both the Lower and Upper Chambers, one might have expected him to possess sufficient experience to influence the recent poll.

However, the chairman added, “The man (Dino) is empty.”

Continuing, Bello emphasized that Melaye’s request to annul the recent governorship election was unfounded since the former senator had not actively taken part in the poll.

According to him, “Dino can not call for the cancellation of an election he did not participate in as a candidate,” insisting that, the former lawmaker is among those that merely “somersaulted into politics knowing nothing about the game.”

His words: “Dino, who was a legislator having served in the green and red chambers with his combined experience, ordinarily such a man should have electoral experience, but the man (Dino) is empty.

“The law is very clear. For him to be qualified to be governor, he has to vote and be voted for, but he didn’t vote in the last election and he is calling for its cancellation.

“How could Dino be calling for the cancellation of an election he never participated in? You see, some political jokers somersaulted into politics, who think they can do anything and get away with it. Dino is one of them.”

The APC chieftain wondered how an unprepared candidate like Dino could raise objections to an election in which he didn’t participate, opting instead for allegations of blackmail.

He maintained, “You and I know that Dino did not prepare for the election but was merely resorting to blackmail here and there. He said there are result sheets somewhere. INEC said, ‘Okay, we will cancel.’ What happened to the rest?

“There are 239 wards in Kogi state. If there is an issue in one ward, do you then cancel the remaining wards where there are no issues?” Bello queried.

Sounding sarcastic, he teased, “So, places you won, were free, fair, and credible, but where I won should be canceled. Who is deceiving who?”

Bello emphasized that, aside from the fact that candidates like Dino and Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party were unprepared in the recent election, none of them had the broad support required to emerge victorious in the poll.

In the politician’s estimation, “it is unthinkable that Dino who limited himself to one part of the state (his constituency) would believe he can be governor of Kogi State, noting further that governorship election is not national assembly election (Senatorial or House of Representatives).

He thus queried more, “How will this man (Dino) become the governor of the state when he limits himself to one part of the state? Is he contesting for the Senate? He doesn’t have spread, and he’s crying foul instead of addressing real issues.

“Some people take this to be House of Representatives or Council Chairmanship elections. My brother, governorship is more than that. If you said you became local government chairman twice and that your people trusted you to be governor of the state, it’s a lie. You must have structure and have the spread. APC has got the spread and structure on the ground in every part of the state. APC has a system in place at local, state, and federal levels.

“Can you compare that with a party that has maybe one House of Representatives member? Where is their structure?

“Politics is very simple, but you must have the right thinking. Politics is not for all comers. You must have the spread. You must have structures. They lack all these, and they want to be governors. It’s simply not possible!” Bello concluded.

Kanyi Daily recalls that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State is urging security agencies to promptly arrest Senator Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in Saturday’s Governorship election.