By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP members under the aegis of Concerned Benue State PDP Stakeholders, have endorsed Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam for the position of National Chairman of the party.
Recall that Sen Suswam recently expressed interest in the PDP National chairmanship seat owing to the vacuum created by the court order that truncated the tenure of Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, an indigene of Benue State from the North Central zone.
Speaking during the endorsement, leader of the group, Professor Nicholas Ada, former Minister of State 1, Foreign Affairs, said Sen Suswam as a founding member of the party in 1999 has remained in the party and therefore have a better understanding of the philosophy and vision of the party than anyone else who may wish to contest with him for this position.
“His track record of service, integrity and vision for the party makes him eminently qualified to lead our party into a new era of progress and prosperity.
“Senator Suswam was elected as Member of the House of Representatives for Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency and re-elected for another 4 year term from 2003 – 2007 during which he served on many sensitive committees.
“When Suswam was Governor of Benue State, he was appointed as a member of the Independent Power Project (IPP) by the then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Few Governors, indeed eight (8) Governors were members of this Committee and because of his pedigree, he was made Chairman of the Committee thus representing the 36 States of the Federation.
“After a very successful double tenure as Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam was elected as Senator representing the good people of Benue State North East Senatorial District. He served on very sensitive Committees including Chairman of House Committee on Power.
“Senator Gabriel Suswam has indeed successfully passed all Grade ‘A’ political examinations with flying colours both at the State and National levels and thus is suitably qualified to be promoted to occupy the leadership position of our great party,” Prof Ada said.
Interestingly, Suswam’s expression of interest to occupy the seat of the National Chairman of PDP is supported by the provision of the constitution of the party to retain party positions in the same zones as they become vacant.
According to Prof Ada, “section 47(6) of the 2017 constitution of the PDP as amended states:
‘where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at appropriate level shall appoint another person from the AREA or ZONE where the officer originated from.”
He cited the appointment of a new Women Leader, who was appointed to complete the tenure of a deceased Women Leader from the South South zone to support Suswam’s agitation.
“PDP thus previously appointed a new Women Leader of the Party after the death of the previous Woman Leader who held that position from the South-South Zone (Cross-River State).
“Let me reiterate at this point that the PDP National Chairmanship today is occupied by the North Central Zone and particularly from Benue State.
“It is therefore constitutional, logical and incumbent on the National Working Committee (NWC) to appoint Senator Suswam to complete the tenure of Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, since he is the only person that has followed due process in expressing his ambition for the position.
“It is on record and with authority that Senator Suswam with tremendous wealth of experience both in the executive and political leadership started the expression of his interest by consulting with the Benue State Working Committee of the PDP where he was also warmly received,” Prof Ada further stated.
He disclosed that Sen
Suswam had also addressed the zonal expanded caucus of the PDP (ZONE A), his immediate constituency in Katsina-Ala during which he intimated PDP party members of his intention.
At that event, Prof Ada said Suswam was overwhelmingly endorsed by a mammoth crowd of PDP faithfuls from his Zone.
“The unprecedented attendance at this consultative meeting clearly showed that our Party is intact and members have been waiting for such opportunity to interact once again and reflect on the happenings during the 2023 General Elections.
“As Concerned Benue State PDP Stakeholders, the home State of Senator Suswam, we have followed with diligence the various outings of Senator Suswam in consulting the Founding Fathers of the PDP and other key major stakeholders of the Party across the country.
“We are convinced that this expression of interest for the leadership of the party declared by Senator Suswam is not a personal agenda; rather it should be viewed as the collective wish of the people of Benue State and indeed, the North Central Zone.
“In the spirit of fairness, justice and equity, The North Central Zone should be given the opportunity to complete her tenure as Chairman of the Party.
“The emergence of Senator Suswam will adequately mobilize the entire Party to form a formidable opposition that will salvage this nation from the unbelievable hardships faced by Nigerians and return our great Party to the winning race.
“Distinguished Party faithful, in Senator Gabriel Suswam we find a leader whose unwavering dedication to the principles of democracy and inclusive governance exemplary.
“This Group of Concerned Benue State PDP Stakeholders has unanimously endorsed Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam CON for the National Chairmanship of our great Party, the PDP.
“We therefore appeal to the leaders of our Great Party saddled with the responsibility of choosing a replacement for Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to consider these rare qualities of Senator Suswam and choose him to lead the Party.
“Senator Suswam has served on many reconciliation Committees of our Party in many States, he is therefore likely to use his cognate experience to recalibrate the party, re-engineer it, rejuvenate it and above all reconcile aggrieved Party members to reposition the Party as we work towards the 2027 General Elections with the hope of winning,” Prof Ada assured.
For the convener, Hon. Dr. Paul Ubwa, maintained that the concerned Benue PDP stakeholders had to come together to put a strong voice behind Senator Suswam’s candidature for national chairman to show the world that he has a strong home base.
