Gemade, Suswam renew senatorial battle in Benue
By Former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam and a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Barnabas Gemade, are in a renewed battle for the soul of North East senatorial district of the state.
The duo had, in the 2015 general elections, contested the senatorial seat, which Gemade won.
It would be recalled that in the buildup to the senatorial primary of the PDP in 2014, Gemade had defected to APC realising that Suswam, then a sitting governor, would frustrate his ambition on the platform of PDP.
Gemade, who had rode on Akume’s back to win the election in 2015, had returned to PDP where he would be contesting the coming party primary with his arch rival, Suswam.
Sources revealed that efforts to get one of the aspirants to step down did not succeed.
Our correspondent narrate that the politicians are threatening to defect to any alternative party if they lost the primary election, but the denied it. Senator Gemade, who spoke through his aide, Laga Udu, at the weekend, said Gemade was not contemplating defection.
While the ruling APC was said to be on the neck of Suswam Gemade was said to be romancing the state SDP.
“There is no truth in the report. The senator is not defecting to any party. In fact, Senator Gemade, this morning, picked his forms,” Udu said.
Also, Suswam denied any plan to defect and expressed assurance of victory in the elections.
“I don’t know how Gemade will defeat me because we have the structure on ground I don’t think that will be possible,” Suswam said during a phone interview.
Meanwhile, some aspirants in Benue have picked their letter of intent and nomination forms.
Our correspondent gathered that the PDP had begun the sale of forms into various elective offices.
As at the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that for governorship, the incumbent governor, Samuel Ortom and John Tondo, had picked their forms.
The sale of forms is expected to close on Wednesday.
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