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Suswam: PDP Has the Structure But Lacks Transparent Leadership to Win 2027 Polls
Former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Torwua
Suswam, has warned that without transparent leadership,PDP risks losing big in 2027 elections, despite its nationwide structure.
Senator Gabriel Suswam has warned that unless the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) addresses its leadership crisis and produces credible candidates, it may face serious challenges in the 2027 elections—despite its widespread national structure.
While commenting on the issue of whether a merger is essential, Suswam argued that while PDP has national reach, what it truly needs are transparent leadership and a credible candidate.
“Two basic factors that can enhance the chances of PDP in the next election. First… PDP has structures across the length and breadth of this country. In every ward you go, there’s PDP.”
“What we need in PDP, first and foremost, is transparent leadership at a national level… It’s all about deceit. People are not sure any longer… People have lost confidence completely in PDP.”
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, Suswam emphasised that PDP remains the only legacy party in Nigeria but is deeply handicapped by internal dysfunction, particularly poor leadership and failure to resolve internal disputes.
“PDP is about the only legacy party that we have in this country,” Suswam said. “Yes, people have suddenly realized that they should fix PDP back. But the question—there are a lot of questions that go with it. Is it not too late in the day?”
He criticised the PDP Governors Forum for rejecting merger talks with other parties, describing the decision as “obsolete,” especially given the level of disenchantment within PDP ranks.
“If I was part of passing that resolution, I wouldn’t be that obsolete because there’s no consultation among the stakeholders of PDP. People have waited all this while,” he stated.
According to Suswam, many stakeholders have mentally checked out of the party due to unresolved issues such as manipulated congresses and repeated postponements of critical meetings like the National Executive Council (NEC).
“Those fundamental issues in the states where congresses were not held and results were announced—and nothing has been done about it—how can you expect such people to remain and just sit down and wait?”
When asked about a recent social media spat between the sons of PDP figures Atiku Abubakar and Governor Bala Mohammed—where the former accused the latter of working for the APC—Suswam dismissed it as irrelevant gossip.
“I don’t think in this country we should reduce the issues of governance to our family members… I don’t want to comment on that. As far as I’m concerned, that comes no issue.”
He also rejected claims that Bala Mohammed worked against the PDP in the last elections.
“Bala won election under PDP. I doubt very much whether he worked against it… In states where we worked, where PDP worked against PDP, we lost those elections—in Benue, for instance.”
On the kind of presidential candidate PDP should field, Suswam stressed the importance of merit and public engagement, rather than backdoor endorsements.
“Let us have people who have interest. It’s not just about somebody sitting and saying that I want to be presidential candidate of PDP. That will not suffice… People want to be anointed. People just don’t want to contest.”
He criticised the trend of moneybags entering the race without popular support, calling for serious self-assessment among aspirants.
“People have little money in their bank’s account and each and every one of them wants to run for president. That is what is happening.”
When asked about who the national secretary of PDP is, Suswam’s answer revealed ongoing internal confusion.
“This is a tricky question”, he said. “You should ask the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court threw more confusion.”
He expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court’s decision to refer the PDP secretaryship dispute back to the party, rather than issuing a decisive ruling.
“We expected the Supreme Court would have been more definite… Because they were not definite, there’s more confusion. We’ll go back to PDP if at all NEC would take place.”
By Fabian Apechihin
Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner, Georgina Rodriguez, has explained why they chose to have a private wedding at home instead of hosting an extravagant ceremony.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez recently announced their marriage in a joint Instagram post, revealing that the ceremony was a modest affair held in the living room of their mansion in Cascais, Portugal.
The decision surprised many, particularly those who expected the high-profile couple to celebrate their union with a lavish wedding.
In an interview with Vogue, Rodriguez explained that her views about marriage and weddings had changed over the years. She said that although she once dreamed of a fairy-tale wedding as a child, she eventually came to prefer a more intimate celebration with her family.
“As a little girl, I envisioned the grandest castle, the most magnificent carriage, the longest gown and a crown adorned with diamonds,” she said.
“Now, I find myself saying: no. I desire something intimate, shared with my partner and our children, in the comfort of our home. We have access to castles, houses, islands, horses, and cars every day.
“However, an intimate gathering is something more unique for us,” she added.
Rodriguez also explained that holding the ceremony in their living room carried special emotional significance because it is where the family spends much of its everyday life.
“We chose to hold the ceremony in our living room, the place where we share breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and where we experience our daily lives,” she said.
“In 30 years, I want our children to remember that something wonderful occurred at this table, the wedding vows of their parents,” Rodriguez added.
By Fabian Apechihin
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has linked illegal mining in Nigeria to organised crime, terrorism and insecurity across West Africa.
The UN agency disclosed this in a statement on Monday following a meeting between its delegation and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals.
The delegation was led by Tullio Santini, Chief of the Africa Section of the Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) at UNODC.
Santini described the NSCDC Mining Marshals’ enforcement unit as critical to efforts to combat illegal mining and its associated criminal activities in Nigeria.
The meeting focused on the UNODC Crime-Terrorism Nexus Initiative, led by Robert Haslinger, a law enforcement expert from the Swedish Police.
According to UNODC, the initiative is designed to strengthen cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies in dismantling the financial and operational links between organised criminal networks and terrorist groups.
Speaking on behalf of the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commander John Onoja Attah described UNODC as an important partner in the fight against illegal mining in Nigeria.
Attah noted that previous training programmes supported by UNODC had significantly improved collaboration between the Mining Marshals and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
He said continued cooperation between relevant agencies would be crucial to addressing the security and financial challenges associated with illegal mining in the country.
By Fabian Apechihin
Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reflected on the transient nature of political relationships, noting that political associates can become distant despite having once worked closely together.
Kwankwaso made the remarks while recalling some of his former political associates.
“I told him that when I come here, I don’t see Bucknor. When I come here, I don’t see Ambode. I started counting the people,” he said.
According to him, his political experience has shown that relationships formed in politics can change over time, with former allies sometimes becoming strangers despite their previous collaborations.
However, Kwankwaso singled out former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, as one of the few political associates he still considers a friend.
He likened political relationships to friendships formed in school, noting that former classmates can maintain strong bonds despite taking different paths in their political careers.
“It’s not very peculiar to Kano, but I think the Kano experience is special out of the general lots,” Kwankwaso said.
Why I Married Cristiano Ronaldo in Our Living Room – Georgina Rodriguez
Illegal Mining in Nigeria Linked to Terrorism, Insecurity – UNODC
Kwankwaso Reflects on Fading Political Alliances
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