Suntai absent at PDP convention as Acting Governor Umar heads Taraba delegation

The governor’s loyalists in Taraba were also absent at the convention.
The Taraba State delegates to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Special National Convention was led by the Acting Governor of the State, Garba Umar.
The ailing Governor of the State, Danbaba Suntai, was expectedly absent. Mr. Suntai recently returned to Nigeria after 10 months of receiving treatment in foreign hospitals following a plane crash. Many observers including majority of Taraba lawmakers say the governor is still recuperating and unfit to lead the state for now. The governor’s handlers and aides however, said he is fit and has resumed office.
The governor was however conspicuously absent at the PDP convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES also observed at the convention venue that most officials loyal to the ailing governor were not at the convention.
One of the aide’s to Mr. Suntai said he was in Abuja but could not come for the convention because of Mr. Umar’s activities.
Mr. Suntai’s spokesperson, Siilvanus Giwa, did not pick or return calls made to his phone seeking clarification on why the ailing governor and his allies did not attend the convention.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to Mr. Umar, Ahmed Yusuf, has said the members of the Taraba State Executive Council have obeyed the directive of Mr. Umar and have resumed office.
PREMIUM TIMES observation on Friday in Taraba showed that many of the commissioners did not resume as directed with two saying they believed the Council remains dissolved after the dissolution was announced by Mr. Suntai’s spokesperson on the directive of the governor.
In a text message response to PREMIUM TIMES inquiries, Mr. Yusuf said “we have all resumed as directed.”

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