Again, Gemade defects to SDP

The senator representing Benue North East, Barnabas Gemade has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Social Democratic Party.
The former PDP national chairman had recently defected from the All Progressives Congress to PDP where he left in 2014 to pursue his second term senatorial ambition.
Blueprint learnt that the senator has gone to SDP to pick his nomination form to contest the Benue North East district popularly known as Zone A, against former governor Gabriel Suswam of PDP and the former Benue revenue boss, Mimi Azape-Orubibi from APC who are also currently vying for the senate position.
But the media aide to Gemade, John Diogo said the senator is still consulting with his constituency over the issue.
Blueprint also gathered that Gemade is expected to submit the nomination form to SDP today.
The senator had three weeks ago picked the expression of intent and nomination forms of PDP but checks from the state party secretariat revealed that Gemade did not return the form.
Former publicity secretary of SDP, Philip Wuhe told Blueprint that the senator would be submitting his senatorial form in Abuja today.
“Gemade will be submitting his nomination and expression of intent forms to the party tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.
Wuhe added that Gemade would be battling with two other aspirants; Senator Joseph Akargerger and Torgem Malu on the platform of SDP for the soul of the senatorial district.
One of Gemade’s legislative aides, Alaga Udu had few weeks ago said that Gemade was not planning to defect from PDP, adding that the senator had already picked his form to contest under the platform of the party.
Reacting to Gemade’s defection, the publicity secretary of PDP in the state, Bemgba Iortyom said that the party was not aware if the senator had left the party.
I am not aware if Senator Gemade has left the party.
I don’t also know if he had picked the party’s form because, apart from the state Assembly form which is being sold here in the state, those contesting other positions are buying their forms in Abuja but they were asked to submit them to the state.
As I am talking to you, Gemade has not submitted the form here,” Iortyom said