The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has suspended Senator Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state, due to allegations of insubordination. This action comes shortly after the suspension of the immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom, signaling heightened tensions within the party’s leadership.
In an official statement released on Thursday, Bemgba Iortyom, the spokesperson for Benue PDP, confirmed the suspension of Senator Suswam along with several other prominent figures.
Those affected include Terngu Tsegba, a former speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly; Richard Gbande, a former federal lawmaker; Terseer Tsumba, another former speaker; and Nicholas Ada, a professor.
Additionally, party chairmen from several local governments—Apa, Gboko, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Logo, Otukpo, and Ukum—were also suspended.
Part of the statement read: “Recall that the party had summoned the affected persons yesterday, 7th August 2024, to appear before the State Working Committee (SWC) to answer to allegations made against them bordering on acts inimical to the good health and interests of the party.
“In the particular case of Senator Suswam, he was also accused of being a spokesperson and errand runner to APC’s governor Hyacinth Alia to the extent that even when the PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Titus Uba, was still in court challenging the outcome of the election, Suswam was going about drumming support for the governor at public functions, with specific reference made to his speech at the burial of the late Akua Aper Aku.
“The affected persons were required to appear before the SWC today at the party’s State Secretariat on No. 1, Ochagwu Lawani Street, New GRA in Makurdi by 10 am, the aim of their summons being to interact with them at a preliminary level and possibly avoid the need to take disciplinary action against them.”
“They have been suspended from the party for one (1) month, and are hereby directed to appear before the disciplinary committee of the party at a date, venue and time to be communicated to them by the committee.”
