Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye, has blamed gang-up for his loss at the primary to elect the senatorial candidate for Kogi West on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The PUNCH had reported that the lawmaker representing Kabba/Bunu Ijumu Federal constituency, Tajudeen Yusuf, defeated Senator Dino Melaye to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party senatorial ticket in Kogi State.

Yusuf defeated Melaye, who represented Kogi West in the eighth Assembly with 163 votes as against 99 votes polled by Melaye.

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In a rerun election held Tuesday in Kaba, following a tied result of 88 votes apiece for the duo of TJ Yusuf and Dino Melaye after Monday’s delegates election.

Congratulating Yusuf, Melaye tweeted, “The primary has been fought and won. I congratulate Hon. T.J YUSUF and thank all those who voted in the first and second ballot for me.

“The gang-up is unimaginable but l give God praise. God bless you all. SDM.”

In Kogi East, former banker, Dr Victor Adoji clinched the ticket to fly the flag of PDP at next February’s general election.

After securing just two votes at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Kaduna North Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives, Adam Namadi, son of former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, has reportedly asked delegates to refund the N2 million each he doled out before the election.

Namadi, who had promised to add N1.5 million to the amount given to each of the delegates, secured the least votes among the three contenders.

The delegates raked in millions of naira from the aspirants who appeared in a hurry to outspend one another.

At the end, Samaila Suleiman, the incumbent representative of the constituency carried the day as he defeated Namadi and Shehu Usman ABG.

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Suleiman, who recently decamped from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, won with 22 votes against Shehu Usman ABG who polled 14 votes.

Delegates told Daily Trust that Suleiman had distributed between N3.5m and N4m to each delegate while ABG gave out N2.5m in cash and Namadi had distributed N2m to delegates.

However, having lost the contest, both ABG and Namadi demanded an immediate refund.

Suleiman, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, left the APC  following the interest of Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s eldest son in his seat at the green chamber.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has again adjusted its timetable and schedule of activities for the governorship, states houses of assembly, Senate and House of Representatives primary elections.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, said in a statement that the National Working Committee of the APC approved the review at its meeting on Monday.

The statement also ruled out participation by statutory or super delegates, following the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act 2022 Amendment Bill, which would have provided roles for this category of delegates.

In the revised timetable, the governorship primary elections would hold on Thursday, May 26 with only state delegates voting.

The primary elections for the state assemblies would hold on the same day, but with local government delegates voting.

The following day, local government delegates would also vote in the senatorial primary elections and so same for the House of Representatives primary elections on 28th May.

APC added, “That the Special Convention for the Presidential Primary will be held as scheduled on Sunday, May 29 – Monday, May 30, 2022.”