Senator Dino Melaye, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Kogi State governorship election, has strongly denounced the incident of a brutal altercation between Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and SDP Governorship candidate Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.
Melaye issued the criticism in a statement on Saturday in Lokoja.
The altercation between the two parties on the Abuja-Lokoja highway on Saturday was uncalled for, according to Melaye, the front-runner in the race for the Lugard House, and it clearly threatened the peaceful conduct of the state’s governorship election on November 11, 2023.
“I’m still getting an update on the attack’s specifics.
“I am aware that the Governor and the campaign for the SDP candidate are trading accusations on the attack.
“If the accusations are accurate, I, Senator Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) nominee for governor of Kogi State, condemn such an incident in the strongest terms possible.
“I urge Kogi State’s governor, Yahaya Bello, and the SDP candidate to avoid escalating any conflict or mayhem there.
“At all times, Kogi State’s tranquility is vital.
Senator Dino Melaye said, “I call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, led by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to use the Office of President of Nigeria, which he currently holds (pending the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Court), to immediately begin investigation into the GYB/SDP clash and ensure that those involved, regardless of their positions, are brought to book.
On Saturday on the Abuja-Lokoja expressway, suspected armed political thugs thought to be loyal to the SDP’s Muritala Yakubu Ajaka were reported to have ambushed and opened fire on the convoy of Governor Yahaya Bello.
