The former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam has declared his candidacy for the Benue North-East Senatorial District in the upcoming 2027 general elections under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Suswam shared his plans during an interview on Arise Television this Monday, marking his formal return to the senatorial race.
Having previously served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, Suswam’s move follows his February defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
He characterized the transition as a political realignment rather than a pursuit of personal gain.
Reflecting on the state’s political history, Suswam noted that Benue voters tend to consolidate around a single dominant party.
He pointed out that while the state was a PDP stronghold for its first 16 years of the current democratic era, the tide has since shifted toward the APC.
“As a Benue son, I won’t be an exception to what my people want and what my people believe. They now believe in the principles and philosophy of the APC,” Suswam remarked.
The two-term former governor explained that his choice to run for the Senate is a practical one dictated by law because the Nigerian Constitution bars him from seeking another term as governor, the National Assembly remains his primary path for continued public service.
“I’m a politician. And as a politician, if you are still strong enough to contest an election, you always want to contest,” he stated, confirming that the Senate is currently his only viable elective option. .
