Melaye, Adeyemi re-enact 2015 senate contest
The 2019 senatorial election for Kogi West District will be a reenactment of that of 2015 between the incumbent Senator Dino Melaye and his predecessor, Smart Adeyemi, who have now swapped their platforms.
The February 16 contest between Melaye and his main challenger, a two-term senator, Smart Adeyemi, will be an interesting albeit a tough contest to look out for, especially given the twists in the exchange of their party platforms among others.
In 2015, Senator Dino Melaye contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defeated Smart Adeyemi who was of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
INEC returned Melaye as winner with 41, 120 votes as against Adeyemi’s 38, 148 votes.
However, in the 2019 contest, Smart Adeyemi is now the flag bearer of the APC and will be slugging it out with his erstwhile opponent, Dino Melaye, who is now of the opposition PDP.
Another interesting twist is that both Melaye and Adeyemi hail from Ijumu LGA of the state. The two gladiators and their teams have been touring the various local government areas in the senatorial district to canvas for votes. Pundits believe that the election will surely be a fierce contest and only time will tell who will carry the day. Magaji Isa Hunkuyi, Jalingo
Abductors of the Chief Press Secretary to the Taraba State Governor, Mallam Hassan Miyinyawa, have demanded N100m ransom for his release, our correspondent
An Igbo group, Izu-Umunna Cultural Association of Nigeria (IUCA) northern wing has condemned Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State’s opposition of Ohanaeze’s endorsement/adoption of a Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate.
A statement from the IUCA president, Ugo Patrick Ihekuna, in Jos yesterday described as unfortunate, insults on Ohanaeze and leader of N’digbo, Chief John gathered yesterday.
Daily Trust was informed by a family member of Hassan, Bello Musa, that the abductors called the wife of the CPS, Sakina Hassan, to demand the ransom.
The source added that the abductors also said her husband Nwodo, by Governor Obiano.
The statement said Obiano is taking his hatred for Peter Obi too far and he (Obiano) cannot decide what is good for N’digbo via Ohanaeze.
“We have received the recent dissenting voices that rose against Ohanaeze because of the choice it made in adopting a presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) for N’digbo with dismay. In particular, the insult of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on the president of Ohanaeze and the leader of N’digbo, Chief was safe and in good heath. Soldiers and police vehicles were seen stationed at the point where he was abducted. It was gathered that a team of soldiers and policemen was deployed to rescue the victims who were taken inside a forest two days ago.
Abductors of Taraba CPS demand N100m ransom
Nwodo.
“Ohanaeze is not one of the government parastatals in Anambra State. So it is not within Obiano’s purview to decide what is good for N’digbo via Ohanaeze because once Ohanaeze speaks N’digbo have spoken,” the statement said.
It called on Governor Obiano to tender an unreserved apology to Nwodo and the entire lgbos who have been morally offended by his action while commending Nwodo for his mature response to Obiano.