By Babs Oyetoro
The ongoing Peoples Democratic Party primary elections have recorded some casualties as some political heavy weights had crashed out in their bids to return to the National Assembly.

PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar helmsman, Dino Melaye yesterday tasted the bitter part of defeat as he lost to a three-time House of Representatives member, Tajudeen Yusuf in a fierce contest for the 2023 Kogi West Senatorial ticket.

It would be recalled that both aspirants had earlier scored 88 votes each during the party’s primary election that was held at the weekend, prompting the conduct of the rerun.

But Yusuf outstanding feat at the poll put paid to Melaye’s bid to return to the Senate scoring a total of 163 votes against the latter’s 99 votes.

Meanwhile, Yusuf is said to be supported by Rivers State Governor and 2023 PDP presidential aspirant, Nyesom Wike, while Melaye has the backing of former Vice President Abubakar, who is also running for president on the platform of the party.

Reacting to the outcome of the rerun yesterday’s evening, Melaye alleged ‘unimaginable gang up’ against him at the poll.

“The Primary has been fought and won. I congratulate Hon. T.J YUSUF and thank all those who voted in the first and second ballot for me. The gang up is unimaginable but l give God praise. God bless you all,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

It was a height of disappointment for Adam Namadi, son of the former Vice President Namadi Sambo as he secured only two votes at the primaries in Kaduna North Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives.

Namadi, who found it difficult to come to terms with the abysmal showing at the poll has reportedly asked delegates to refund the N2 million he doled out before the election.

Namadi, who had promised to add N1.5 million to the amount given to each of the delegates, secured the least votes among the three contenders; eventually lost to Samaila Suleiman, the incumbent representative of the constituency. The third aspirant, Shehu Usman ABG also lost to the incumbent.

It was a bazar of sort to the delegates as ThisNigeria gathered from a reliable source that the incumbent lawmaker shared between N3.5m and N4m to each delegate while ABG doled out N2.5m in cash while Namadi gave each delegate N2m.

However, having lost the contest, both ABG and Namadi demanded an immediate refund.

Suleiman, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, left the APC following the interest of Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s eldest son in his seat at the green chamber.

Just last Monday, Senators Patrick Akinyelure and Nicholas Tofowomo, who represent Ondo Central and South Senatorial Districts respectively lost at the party primary, held in Akure.

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While Senator Akinyelure lost to Mr Ife Adedipe, SAN, Senator Tofowomo was defeated by a former deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

In the Northern Senatorial area, Adetokunbo Modupe defeated Foluso Adefemi to emerge the party’s candidate.

But reacting to his defeat, Senator Akinyelure said: “As a ranking Senator and with all I have done for them in Ondo Central Senatorial District, the three ad-hoc delegates that favoured Olusegun Mimiko, were instructed to vote me out. I am happy for this but I know my God will never fail.

“The election was so transparent, but I know that with the volume of what I have done for Ondo Central Senatorial District, I did not expect to be paid this way. But I have a destiny that nobody can stop.”

Another upset was recorded in Bayelsa State as the lawmaker representing Ogbia Federal Constituency, Mr Fred Obua, yesterday, lost his bid to return to the National Assembly for a second tenure as he lost the primaries to the chairman of Ogbia Local Government Area, Ebiyon Marvin Turner.