The Kogi State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dino Melaye, on Friday unveiled Habeebat Deen as his running mate for the November 11, 2023 election in the State.
Mrs Deen was unveiled to PDP elders and members after she was presented to the party leadership by the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Dino Melaye, at a brief unveiling ceremony, which held at the private residence of a former governor of the State, Alh. Ibrahim Idris, popularly known as Ibro, in Abuja.
Habeebat Deen was a member of the Kogi State House of Assembly. She hails from Ankpa local government area of Kogi East senatorial zone of the State.
Speaking before the unveiling, the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Melaye, said the choice was unprecedented by any major political party in the State, adding that, “we will continue to do things that are innovative and different.”
Present at the unveiling event were the State PDP chairman, Engr. Sam Ohuotu; Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha (rtd); former Governor Ibrahim Idris; Prince Olusola Akanmode; Dr. Tom Adaba, and Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, among other party stalwarts and members.
Gen. Ogbeha congratulated Melaye for quickly and seamlessly nominating a deputy governorship candidate on the PDP ticket, saying that by the action, “he (Melaye) has shown his gender sensitivity.”
He added: “It’s a divine choice. He has made a statement beyond Kogi State because it will generate a lot of interests, excitement and goodwill.”
Gen. Ogbeha appealed to all those who contested the governorship ticket with Melaye to support his candidacy for the success of the party.
For her part, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was the PDP candidate for the 2023 Kogi Central senatorial election, said it was natural for Kogi West to produce the next Governor of Kogi State while also praising the gender balance of the PDP ticket.
She noted that carrying women along in governance will make a lot of difference even as she promised to mobilise Kogi Central women for the PDP success in the November 11 governorship election.
Also speaking, former Governor Ibrahim Idris called for a unity of purpose among PDP members in the State in order to achieve victory at the governorship poll.
“We need to work together as members of the same family. If that is done, I believe success is ours,” Idris said.
The former governor reiterated that only God gives power to whomever He wants, hence the emergence of Dino Melaye as the PDP governorship candidate, whom he also described as “ready” for the task ahead.
“Dino has shown that he is ready to do the work. He has been saying things that show that he means business,” Idris added.
