Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has been drawn to a letter circulating on social media, purportedly authored by Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam, and dated Wednesday, 4th February, 2026, in which he claims to have resigned his membership of the party.
While the party acknowledges the existence of the said document, it is important to state that it was not formally communicated through the recognized and appropriate party channels, but rather came to public attention via social media platforms.
The PDP recognizes Senator Suswam’s long-standing association with the party and his years of public service under its banner, during which he served as a Member of the House of Representatives, Governor of Benue State, and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For this period of shared political engagement, the party acknowledges his past contributions and wishes him well in his future pursuits.
However, in the interest of clarity, accuracy, and the public record, the PDP considers it necessary to make the following observations:
First, the purported resignation is coming several months after Senator Suswam had left the PDP and repeatedly aligned himself with a political coalition outside the party. This alignment was neither subtle nor speculative. He attended multiple meetings of the coalition, actively participated in its public unveiling in Benue State, and went as far as donating a personal property for use as its secretariat, after evicting the PDP from the same premises. In light of these overt actions, it raises a fundamental question as to why Senator Suswam had to address his “resignation letter” to the PDP at this stage, rather than to the political platform he had clearly embraced long before now.
Secondly, pursuant to Section 8 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, any member who fails to pay membership subscription for a continuous period of twelve (12) months automatically ceases to be a member of the party. Senator Suswam had long fallen within this category and was, accordingly, expelled from the PDP during the period of his active and open association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). By implication, one cannot resign from a party of which one is no longer a member.
Thirdly, PDP finds the justification cited in Senator Suswam’s letter namely, internal crises, difficult to reconcile with present realities. More than ninety percent (90%) of the internal disagreements that once affected the PDP at the national, zonal, and state levels have since been substantially resolved through deliberate reconciliation efforts, leadership realignments, internal consensus-building, and judicial pronouncements.
The PDP further notes, with regret, that many of the challenges referenced in the letter were largely precipitated by the Senator himself. Since his departure, however, the PDP in Benue State has witnessed an unprecedented level of unity, coordination, and renewed political momentum under the leadership of the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom and the State Working Committee of the party, led by the State Chairman, Rt. Hon Ezekiel A. Adaji
This cohesion was recently and publicly demonstrated at a well-attended stakeholders’ gathering convened by His Excellency Chief Ortom, where leaders and opinion shapers from across Benue State, including several individuals previously regarded as Senator Suswam’s core loyalists, openly reaffirmed their commitment to the PDP. This development clearly contradicts the narrative of dysfunction presented in the purported resignation letter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the PDP recognizes that political choices are personal and respects Senator Suswam’s right to pursue any political path of his choosing. The party bears no ill will and remains focused on its larger mission.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State remains committed to strengthening its structures, consolidating internal harmony, and presenting a united, credible, and people-oriented alternative to the citizens of Benue State and Nigeria at large. We therefore wish Senator Suswam well and reassure our members and supporters that the PDP in Benue State remains stable, cohesive, and firmly positioned to confront the challenges ahead.
Tim Nyor
State Publicity Secretary
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Benue State