BENUE PDP SLAMS SUSWAM OVER DEFECTION TO APC
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has played down the resignation of former governor, Gabriel Suswam, stating that he had effectively exited the party long before submitting his letter.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Tim Nyor, made the assertion in a statement issued on Wednesday while reacting to Suswam’s resignation.
Nyor said the former governor’s resignation came months after he had already distanced himself from the PDP, noting that Suswam had consistently aligned with a political coalition outside the party.
According to him, “The purported resignation of Senator Suswam is coming several months after he had left the PDP and repeatedly aligned himself with a political coalition outside the party.”
He said Suswam’s alignment with the coalition was clear and unmistakable, noting that the former governor attended several of its meetings, took part in its public unveiling in Benue State, and reportedly donated personal property for use as its secretariat after the PDP was evicted from the same premises.
Nyor argued that, given these actions, it was unclear why Suswam chose to address a resignation letter to the PDP at this time rather than to the political platform he had openly identified with for months.
Referencing Section 8 of the PDP Constitution, Nyor explained that any member who fails to pay membership dues for 12 consecutive months automatically forfeits party membership.
He added that Suswam had long met this condition and was therefore expelled from the party during his active association with the African Democratic Congress, stressing that “by implication, one cannot resign from a party of which one is no longer a member.”
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In response to Suswam’s assertion that internal party crises led to his resignation, the PDP contended that many of the issues he cited were largely of his own making.
Former Governor Gabriel Suswam submitted his resignation to the ward chairman of his Mbagber Council Ward in Logo Local Government Area, citing persistent internal conflicts within the PDP as his reason for stepping down.
“Despite repeated interventions, reconciliatory committees, and public assurances, the party continues to operate in a state of deep internal dysfunction,” part of his letter read.
He added, “I believe that political parties must serve as platforms for ideas, discipline, and constructive engagement, not arenas of endless internal warfare. Regrettably, the current state of affairs within the PDP no longer aligns with these ideals. I therefore consider it honourable and necessary to step aside, while wishing the party well, should it one day find the courage to resolve its longstanding contradictions.”
Following his resignation, Suswam formally registered with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday.
James Ornguga, the state APC registration coordinator and publicity secretary, confirmed that Suswam registered at his council ward in Anyiim, Logo LGA.
“It’s true, Suswam formally registered with the APC today at Anyiim in Logo LGA. As I speak, we are on our way back to Makurdi,” Ornguga said.
Suswam’s defection marks the end of his coordination of the African Democratic Congress in the state last year and signals his full alignment with the APC.
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