Chief Barnabas Gemade
FORMER National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Barnabas Gemade has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with hundreds of his loyalists who accompanied him to APC at his Mbawar Council Ward, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.
Gemade rejoined APC after a stint with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and said he decided to rejoin APC after due consideration of his political climate and Benue State, noting his return to APC was a home–coming.
He represented Benue North East senatorial district on the platform of APC from 2015-2019.
At the Ward, Gemade expressed gratitude to APC leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari; Acting National Chairman of the party and Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni and Minister for Special Duties Senator George Akume, expressing his willingness to contribute towards reshaping the party in the state to become stronger.
Gemade said his cooperation with Akume, since return to party politics in 1999, has always been instrumental to electoral victory in the state.
Benue APC chairman Comrade Abba Yaro who received Chief Gemade on behalf of the party said it was a great day for APC to recapture a big fish like Chief Gemade.
“We were not happy when you left. Now that you are back we are happy. It’s a good day for APC because Chief Gemade is a big fish.
“Let me assure you that there is no new APC or old APC; everyone is treated the same and we all have equal rights.
“We are all brothers and sisters. Therefore, let us support one another and work together as a team.
“If the state secretariat of the party has offended you in anyway, forgive us,” Yaro said.