The leadership of Kogi State Central and West Forum, a body comprising of notable indigenes of Kogi Central and West senatorial districts of Kogi State, has endorsed Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the consensus candidate for the November 11 governorship election in the state.
The group had invited the PDP candidate, Melaye, the ADC candidate, Hon Leke Abejide and the Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Mr Olayinka Braimoh for an interview exercise that will guide the hierarchy and members of the forum on which of the candidates that is best suited for the Forum’s endorsement.
At the close of the exercise, Melaye, the PDP candidate scored two thousand two hundred and three (2203); his closest contestant, Abejide, the ADC candidate, had one thousand, eight hundred and eighty-five (1885) while Olayinka Braimoh of the AA received one thousand two hundred and ninety three (1293).
Senator Melaye was thereafter endorsed as the consensus candidate for the the forum pending his unveiling in the communities that constitute the two senatorial districts.
The former vice chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof Nuhu Yakubu is the chairman of the Kogi Group while the former chairman of Ogori/Mangogo local government area, Hon Mathew Keyi, is the secretary.
Other members of the forum include Prof Aliyu; Professor Mike Ikupolati; Prof (Mrs) Emily Alemeka; Senator Mohammed Ohiare; Barrister (Mrs) Justina Abanida et al.