Barnabas Gemade

Barnabas Andyar Iyorhyer Gemade is a Nigerian engineer and politician. He served as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2001, contested the party's presidential primary in 2003, and later represented Benue North-East in the Senate for two terms.

Gemade was born on 4 September 1948 in Mkar, Benue State.

He obtained his First Leaving Certificate at Bristow Secondary School, Gboko (1963), his WASC at Government College, Keffi (1970), a B.Eng. from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1974), and an M.Sc. from City University London (1978).

Gemade began his career as an NYSC intern with the Western Nigeria Housing Corporation (1975), before working as a Senior Manager with Etteh Aro & Partners in Jos and Kaduna (1975-79) and as Site Manager with Carl Ploetner Ltd (1979-80). In 1980, he co-founded the engineering firm Sam Barns and Partners in Jos. From 1985 to 1992 he served as Deputy Managing Director and later Chief Executive Officer of the Benue Cement Company.

Gemade was a member of the 1994-95 Constitutional Conference under General Sani Abacha's military government, during which he also held the role of Secretary (Minister) of Works and served as National Chairman of the Congress of National Consensus party.

Following Nigeria's return to civilian rule, Gemade was elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999, defeating founding member Chief Sunday Awoniyi at the party's first post-election national convention, and led the party until 2001. In 2003, he contested the PDP presidential primary, losing to incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo, and was subsequently expelled from the party over alleged anti-party activities before later being readmitted and appointed to its Board of Trustees. From May 2011 to 2019, he represented Benue North-East in the Senate across two terms, chairing the Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

Led the Peoples Democratic Party as National Chairman during its formative post-1999 period. Served two terms in the Senate representing Benue North-East.

As National Chairman of the PDP during its early years in power, Gemade played a central role in organizing Nigeria's then-dominant political party during a formative period of the Fourth Republic.

• 4 September 1948 — Born at Mkar, Benue State
• 1974 — Graduated B.Eng., Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
• 1985-1992 — Deputy Managing Director, then CEO, Benue Cement Company
• 1994-1995 — Member, Constitutional Conference; Secretary of Works
• 1999-2001 — National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
• 2003 — Contested PDP presidential primary
• May 2011-2019 — Senator, Benue North-East

• Photo: Wilses, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Gemade.jpg).