The Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the upcoming Kogi State governorship election, Dino Melaye, has alleged that the incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello, is seeking a third term through a proxy.

Melaye made the allegation on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. 

He said that Bello is backing his party’s candidate, Ahmed Ododo, to succeed him, but that the governor is the one who is really seeking to remain in power.

“Don’t be deceived that Yahaya Bello is not on the ballot. Ododo is physically on the ballot but Yahaya Bello is the one seeking a third term through a proxy.

“I will not want this debate to be about Yahaya Bello, rather I would like to market my political party and market what we have for Kogi State,” he stated.

Melaye said that he is confident of unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress because the PDP has done it before in Kogi State. 

He also pointed out that he won his senatorial election under the PDP in 2019, even though Bello was the governor at the time.

Melaye said that he is the most qualified candidate in the race because he is the most educated, most exposed, and most experienced.

“It’s not debatable. I was a member of the House of Reps and I was voted twice as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Leke Abejide is a member of the House of Reps but I was in the House of Reps 17 years ago.

“And the governorship of Kogi State is not a learning ground. It’s a place you need people who definitely must have managed human and material resources over the years,” Melaye argued.