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In the aftermath of the Kogi governorship election in 2019, controversy erupted as the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleged widespread irregularities and malpractice in the election process. Among those leading the charge was former senator Dino Melaye, who has since displayed the PDP results in what he calls an act of transparency and accountability. The move has once again highlighted the need for free and fair elections in Nigeria and the importance of holding those in power accountable.

In the days following the Kogi election, reports of violence, vote-buying, ballot-box snatching, and other forms of electoral malpractice emerged from various parts of the state. The PDP quickly condemned the election as a sham and called for its cancellation. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner of the election, the opposition party continued to challenge the results.

It was in this context that Dino Melaye, who was then a member of the PDP and a candidate for the Kogi West senatorial seat, emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the election. Melaye accused the APC of rigging the election and claimed that the PDP had won the governorship seat. He promised to reveal the PDP’s results, saying that “only God could have done this.”

Recently, Melaye made good on his promise and displayed what he claimed were the PDP’s results from the election. In a video posted on social media, Melaye showed a stack of documents and explained that they contained the results from all the polling units in the state. He claimed that the documents were evidence of the PDP’s victory in the election and called on INEC to reverse its earlier declaration.

The move by Melaye has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from some quarters. Some have accused him of being a sore loser and trying to cause trouble after losing the senatorial election. Others have questioned the authenticity of the documents and suggested that they could have been fabricated. There are also those who argue that Melaye’s actions are a sign of the state of Nigerian politics and the need for electoral reform.

Whatever the motivations behind Melaye’s move, it has once again highlighted the need for free and fair elections in Nigeria. The country has a history of electoral malpractice and violence, and many citizens have lost faith in the democratic process. It is essential that those in power uphold the principles of transparency and accountability and work to ensure that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.

In conclusion, the display of the PDP’s results by Dino Melaye has once again brought the issue of electoral malpractice to the forefront of Nigerian politics. While some have criticized his actions, it is clear that the need for free and fair elections in Nigeria is paramount. The country must work to strengthen its democratic institutions, hold those in power accountable, and ensure that the voice of the people is heard through the ballot box. Only then can Nigeria move forward and build a better future for its citizens.