September 27, (THEWILL) – Senator Gabriel Suswam has denied sealing off the Benue Secretariat of the PDP, assuring stakeholders that he is still hopeful of clinching the national chairmanship seat of the party during next month’s meeting in Abuja.
Former Benue State Governor, Suswam, while addressing stakeholders in Makurdi, explained that the replacement of former national Chairman of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, would be done by critical stakeholders and not by any election.
He explained that when Alhaji Bamaga Tukur left office as PDP National Chairman, stakeholders in that region met and appointed his replacement, saying he is most qualified to take over and assist in repositioning the party ahead of future elections.
“So, I should not be seen as campaigning for the position of national chairmanship. When our women leader died in the South-South, another one was returned in that area to complete the tenure”, he stated.
According to the national chairmanship hopeful, the purported PDP State Congresses held in Benue, was a farce that could not stand in a democracy and should be ignored.
He pointed out that such an exercise was not held in four local government areas like Gboko, Buruku, Ushongo, and Guma, noting that results were collated in 15 out of the 19 local government areas to the party Secretariat.
Senator Suswam, who accused some people in the party of their quest to take over structures by whatever means, noted that their actions have caused the PDP to lose elections in 2023, in the worst manner since the history of Benue State.
He pointed out that at no point did he direct the closure of the State PDP Secretariat against members, attributing such speculation to another ploy by some elements to blackmail him for selfish gain.
In his remarks, Senator Emmanuel Orker Jev, said the agenda of the ruling APC is to cause crisis in the PDP ahead of the 2027 general election, accusing some people at the national Secretariat of being complicit.
He, therefore, called for unity of purpose to uplift the party, urging members to be wary of individuals in the state on a mission to destroy the system.
On his part, the Speaker Pro Tempore, Rt. Honorable Terngu Tsegba, called for the inauguration of ward Exco in the state, as if this is not done, it will appear as if the sham carried out was recognised.
Former State Chairman of the party, Sir John Ngbede, alleged that the names of those who won at the ward primaries were changed, including in his local government area of Agatu.
According to him, he was approached to assist in manipulating the lists of winners, which he declined, saying the PDP must be rescued from the hands of mischief-makers and throwing his wealth of support for Suswam to succeed in his bid to succeed Dr. Ayu as national Chairman.
A member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Margaret Icheen, said some people from the Kwande local government area, who have nothing to show for the party are bent on creating a crisis and called for steadfastness.
