Gabriel Suswam

Gabriel Suswam
Governor of Benue State
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2007
Preceded by George Akume
Personal details
Born 15 November 1964
Anyiin, Logo LGA of Benue State

Gabriel Torwua Suswam is a Nigerian politician who became governor of Benue State in May 2007.[1] He ran again successfully in the 26 April 2011 elections on the PDP platform.[2]

Background

Gabriel Suswam was born on 15 November 1964 in Anyiin, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. In 1986 he was admitted into the Law Faculty of the University of Lagos. He obtained an LL.B degree in 1989, and the BL Certificate from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos in 1990. He was called to the Bar that year. He worked for other law firms from 1990–1994, while continuing his studies. In 1994 he launched his own law firm.[3]

Political career

He ran for office in the House of Representatives in 1999 for the Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo Federal Constituency, and was elected on the People's Democratic Party (PDP) platform.[4] He was appointed Chairman of the House Services Committee, and later Chairman, House Committee on FCT. He ran again, and was reelected in 2003. On 3 July 2003, he was appointed Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, then in August, 2005 he was appointed Chairman, House Committee on Power.[1]

In April 2007 he was elected Governor of Benue State.

In November 2009, he spoke in favor of automatic re-election of all political office holders who exemplified themselves in the discharge of their responsibilities.[5] In a separate interview, he said politicking was the major factor militating against the development of the state since its creation.[6]

Suswam ran again in the 26 April 2011 elections on the PDP platform. He scored 590,776 votes, beating runner-up Professor Torkuma Ugba of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who got 499,319 votes.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Hon. Gabriel Suswam". Gabriel Suswam. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Uja Emmanuel (29 April 2011). "ACN kicks as Suswam wins". The Nation. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  3. "GOVERNOR GABRIEL SUSWAM OF BENUE STATE". Nigeria Governors' Forum. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  4. "Governor Gabriel Suswam at 43". Government of Benue State of Nigeria. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  5. Peter Duru (12 November 2009). "Suswam wants automatic re-election for political office holders". Vanguard. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  6. Augustine Adah (22 November 2009). "The Formula That Has Worked for Benue". NewsWatch. Retrieved 2009-12-03.