(NNP) The political drama of Gov. Godwin Obaseki’s defection to PDP and the pervasive animus between the PDP and the APC, continued on Saturday with former PDP Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, entering the fray. In a rally attended by PDP big wigs to gather support for Gov. Obaseki’s reelection, Dino Melaye, surprised supporters at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, when he prayed Holy Ghost fire to consume opponents intending to rig the election and wished that two sitting governors should be infected by COVID-19.

The former senator warned that all those who intend to rig the gubernatorial elections slated for September in Edo State should forget about the idea. He spiritedly invoked “Holy Ghost fire” to consume them. He said repeatedly, “Every power that is going to rig this election, Holy Ghost…” and the supporters finished the prayer with a resounding response of “fire.”

In the form of a fervent prayer, the controversial former Senator reserved the hashest curse of COVID-19 infection for those from Abuja who intend to rig the election. He stated partly in pidgin English, “Those who want to come from Abuja wey dey put dollars for pocket, from Kogi State, wey want come rig this election, begin to Receive COVID, Receive COVID, Receive COVID.”

His mention of Kogi State was believed to be a reference to APC Gov. Yahaya Bello, with whom he has had many political run-ins. By insinuation, his coronavirus infection curse was also directed at Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, whom he referred to as “those who put dollars in their pocket.” Gov. Ganduje had been the object of the Obaseki’s campaign with billboards ads across Benin City blasting the Kano APC governor.

In a well publicized political fight that involved the former Chairman of the APC and Obaseki’s predecessor, Adam Oshiomole, Gov. Obaseki was forced to decamp to the PDP where he almost immediately picked up the gubernatorial ticket to contest against his APC opponent in the September 19 election.

Gov. Obaseki reflecting on his unsavory experience in the APC noted to his supporters in the famed Samuel Ogbemudia stadium that was once home to the iconic Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City, “When I was thrown out in the rain, and the political storm, you gave me the umbrella to shield me.” He told his supporters to safeguard their votes and be law abiding. He stated, “We do not want bloodshed.”

Those who attended the rally were the governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, among other notables.

-NewNigerianPolitics