THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Kogi State, Dino Melaye, has challenged Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to a show of support for PDP presidential contender Atiku Abubakar before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The governor, a PDP member, is widely thought to have backed President Bola Tinubu’s candidacy for election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Makinde, aggrieved by Atiku’s victory in the party’s primaries against a southerner, had joined a group of five PDP governors known as the G5 in the run-up to the February 25 presidential election.
After the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu the winner, Atiku and others petitioned the tribunal to overturn the result.
However speaking today at a retreat for PDP elected officials held in Bauchi State, the Oyo governor said, “We were through a gruelling election, and whether we want to admit it or not, we had issues amongst ourselves during the election, but you know what?
“The healing process will have to start, and the healing process will start now. We must focus on things that will unite us. We must, as a matter of urgency, be forward-looking.”
During the question-and-answer session of the event, Melaye redirected the governor’s words to him.
Asking Makinde to support Atiku’s claim that the election process was compromised, Melaye argued that the gesture “will show that the healing has truly started.”
“I just want to start by appreciating the comment of Governor Seyi Makinde this morning, particularly where he said, ‘Healing starts now,’” he said.
“And the way to start that healing is, I would be glad if between now, next week, and two weeks that we’ll be at the tribunal, to see Governor Seyi Makinde walk into the tribunal venue and sit down, to support the party, our candidate.”
According to the Kogi PDP candidate, it would demonstrate to Nigerians that the healing has started and show the world the PDP is united.
