By Amos Aar
MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of the concerned Benue PDP stakeholders have endorsed former governor of Benue State and former senator representing Benue North East, Gabriel Suswam, for national chairmanship of the party.
The endorsement took place Thursday in Makurdi, Benue State capital.
Convener of the group, Dr Paul Ubwa, said a court order which truncated the tenure of Dr Iorchia Ayu, a Benue indigene, created a vacuum that can best be filled by Senator Gabriel Suswam who hails from the same Benue State and North Central region with Dr Ayu.
Guest speaker at the event, Prof. Nicholas Adah, said Suswam’s expression of interest to occupy the position of the national chairman of the PDP is predicated on the constitutional provision the party that where a vacuum is created, somebody from that zone should fill it.
“For avoidance of doubt, section 27 (6) of the 2017 constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended) states and I quote, where a vacuum occurs in any of the offices of the party, the executive committee at appropriate level should appoint another person from the area or the zone where the officer originated from. So, it’s not strange that we are here to endorse Gabriel Suswam. The endorsement has to start with us because charity begins at home”.
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He argued that Suswam is the only person who knows the philosophy and vision of the party, adding that the concerned stakeholders did not know any other person jostling with him for the position. He further argued that Suswam is the only aspirant who has followed due process in expressing his ambition. According to him, Suswam followed due process by starting his expression of interest by consulting with the Benue state working committee of the party where he was “warmly received” and he also addressed the PDP zonal expanded caucus.
He appealed to leaders of the party saddled with the responsibility of “choosing the replacement for senator Dr Iorchia Ayu” to consider Suswam based on his sterling leadership qualities.
Following the appeal for Suswam to be endorsed, former speaker pro-tempo, House of Representatives, Hon. Terngu Tsegba, on behalf of the group put a question for voice confirmation and there was no dissenting voice.
After various endorsements by PDP groups, Tsegba moved that “these resolutions be conveyed to the State Working Committee, the North Central Working Committee and the National Working Committee for onward presentation to the National Executive Council of the PDP for confirmation and appointment of Suswam as National chairman of the PDP.
Speaking earlier on behalf of former National Assembly members from Benue state as why they decided to endorse Suswam, Hon. Tsegba said the two-term former House of Representatives member for Katsina-Ala/UKum/Logo federal constituency will restore discipline in the party, lamenting that the values for which the party was formed in 1999 have been eroded.
On his part, PDP North Central zonal secretary, Mr Maurice Tsav, assured that the zone would convene soon and take a decision before the National Working Committee.
Although the concerned Benue PDP stakeholders claimed they did not know any other aspirant for the position, National Record gathered reliably that a former focal person for social investment programme in the state, Engr Terhide Utaan, two weeks ago officially declared his ambition to contest for the position.
