A former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party over what he termed unresolved internal conflicts.
Mr Suswam’s decision was contained in a letter on Wednesday addressed to the PDP chairman, Mbagber Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The former governor expressed gratitude to the party for providing him with a platform during his tenures as a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007, governor of Benue State, a position he held between 2007 and 2015, and subsequently as a senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial District between 2019 and 2023.
Mr Suswam stated, “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with effect from the date of this letter. This decision has not been taken lightly.
“For decades, the PDP provided me with a platform to serve the Nigerian people in various capacities; as a nember of the House of Representatives, as governor of Benue State, and as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For these opportunities and the trust reposed in me at different times, I remain sincerely grateful.”
Stating the reason for the decision, Mr Suswam based his resignation on the persistent and unresolved internal conflicts which characterise the party’s leadership structure, discipline and ideology.
“The party that once stood as a symbol of cohesion, internal democracy, and progressive opposition has, regrettably, become plagued by persistent and unresolved internal conflicts. These disputes, spanning leadership structure, discipline, and ideology have been allowed to fester without any clear or credible pathway to resolution,” Mr Suswam noted.
The former governor stated that the PDP remained trapped in a state of deep internal dysfunction despite interventions, reconciliatory meetings and public assurances.
He added thatbthe party remained “in crises mode” and “political intensive care”, “with no consensus diagnosis and no agreed treatment plan in sight.”
Mr Suswam explained that he believed that political parties should serve as a ground for ideas, discipline and constructive engagement, rather than an arena of endless internal warfare.
“As a committed democrat and stakeholder in Nigeria’s political development, I find it increasingly difficult to reconcile my continued membership with my personal convictions, political philosophy, and desire to contribute meaningfully to nation-building within a stable and functional political framework,” Mr Suswam said.
“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,” he added.
Bidding the PDP farewell, Mr Suswam said he hoped that the party would be able to ultimately resolve its longstanding contradictions.
“I therefore consider it honourable and necessary to step aside, while wishing the party well, should it one day find the courage and consensus to resolve its longstanding internal contradictions.”
“Please accept my resignation and convey my appreciation to members at all levels for the shared journey over the years,” the former governor stated.
