The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue state, Thursday, suspended Senator Gabriel Suswam, Terngu Tsegba, Richard Gbande, Terseer Tsumba and Professor Nicholas Ada from the party for gross insubordination.
Also suspended were the chairmen of the party for Apa, Gboko, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Logo, Otukpo and Ukum Local government areas.
The party had summoned the affected persons, Wednesday, 7th August, 2024, to appear before the State Working Committee (SWC) to answer to allegations made against them bothering on acts inimical to the health and interests of the party.
They were also, according to the party, to answer to alleged diversion of campaign funds during the 2023 elections, sponsoring of factions and thuggery within the party.
Other allegations were sponsoring of publication of internal party disputes, sponsoring of court litigations against the party without recourse to the internal dispute resolution mechanisms, among several other allegations.
In the 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, Engineer 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 late Akua Aper Aku.
A statement issued Thursday by publicity secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, said the affected persons were required to appear before the SWC last Monday at the party’s state secretariat on No. 1, Ochagwu Lawani Street, New GRA in Makurdi by 10am.
The statement noted that the aim of their summons was to interact with them at a preliminary level and possibly avoid the need to take disciplinary action against them.
He said, “but rather than reciprocate the conciliatory gesture extended to them, they chose the path of intransigence and insubordination by refusing to appear before the SWC as required, with some of them taking to the public space to pour scorn on the party’s constituted authority.”
“Their unfortunate conduct contravene Section 58 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as Amended in 2017) and accordingly, they have been suspended from the party for a period of 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.
“PDP charges its teeming members across the state to remain law abiding and keep faith with the party’s leadership as it steers a peaceable way out of the unfortunate events of the recent past, in the assurance that the party will emerge stronger from the ongoing reformation efforts.”
The PDP, Benue state chapter, in recent times have been divided, creating two factions loyal to former governors Samuel Ortom and Gabriel Suswam. Just few days ago both factions began a battle of suspension, which has worsened the current situation of the party.
While the state chairman of the party, John Ngede, along with three members of the party who are loyal to Suswam were suspended in the morning of Monday, in the evening, Ortom along with his loyalists were also suspended.
The suspension of Senator Suswam on Thursday, is viewed by many people as an indication of revenge for the earlier suspension of Ortom.
Credit: Blueprint except headline
