It is no longer news that Dino Melaye has won the Kogi State People's Democratic Party's primary election thus nominated as the candidate of the opposition PDP for the upcoming Kogi state governorship election.
What was little known was the source of the funds used to prosecute the elections. An election that was widely adjudged as one of the most monitised primary elections in our recent history. Many stakeholders who spoke to Abuja Network News are of the opinion that the emergence of Melaye as the candidate did not come to them as a surprise considering the amount of money spent before, during and after the election.
"Considering the events in the build up to the primaries it will be difficult to assume that Dino will win the primary election, but if you consider the amount of money that change hands then it will no longer be a surprise." A PDP chieftain in state who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
Another one added " Well Dino has used the money he horded during the presidential elections to buy the party and the ticket, what remains is let's see if he can win the general election. "
It might be recalled that Abuja Network News has reported how Dino Melaye and some top PDP stakeholders smuggled a whooping sum of N50b Naira out of the CBN with the collaboration of some CBN directors and top security agencies. It could also be recalled that an investigation letter proved that the said funds were part of a N100b loan from Zenith Bank to the Delta State Government.
The said funds were meant to oil the PDP rigging machines during the presidential elections and were meant for 15 Northern State which Mr. Melaye served as the chairman of the sharing committee.
Insider sources reveal that after sharing, the funds meant for Kogi and Kwara States were disbursed through Melaye who was said to have disbursed less than 20% of the funds to his cronies and buried the rest.
Recent investigation by Abuja Network News shows that it was the same funds Dino Melaye used to used to prosecute his primary election which gave him an edge over the other contestants due to his higher spending power.
Nigerians are watching and many pro democracy activities have expressed worries and concern over the use of money to buy elections despite efforts by the current government of President Muhammadu Buhari to combat the menace.
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