A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, on Tuesday defeated former Senator Dino Melaye to secure the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s ticket to contest in the forthcoming National Assembly election for a seat in the Kogi West Senatorial Zone.

Yusuf, currently representing Kabba/Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, polled 163 votes to defeat Melaye, who had 99 votes, in a rerun primary election held after Monday night’s contest tied at 88 votes apiece.

Recall that there was a deadlock in the Kogi West PDP Senatorial primary election in which both aspirants polled 88 votes each.

While Yusuf was rooting for Nyesom Wike in the state, Dino Melaye was backing Atiku Abubakar, turning the game to a royal rumble of two influential presidential candidates of the party.

However, Yusuf was able to draw sympathy from the camp of former governor Ibrahim Idris, whose favourite candidate, Sam Aro, polled 72 votes in the first run of the senate primary on Monday.

The Sam Aro bloc vote swung the election in favour of Yusuf and permanently sealed Dino Melaye’s fate, as far as 2023 Senatorial ambition is concerned

Speaking after he was declared winner, Yusuf extended the olive branch to his co-contestants, urging them to join hands with him to win the general election.

He commended the peaceful conduct of the primary, promising to continue with his good work if elected at the general election.