Former Benue State Governor and one-time Senator for Benue North-East, Gabriel Suswam, has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending a long political relationship that spanned more than two decades.
Suswam announced his departure in a resignation letter dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, which he addressed to the PDP Chairman of Mbagber Council Ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
In the letter, the former governor explained that his decision was driven by what he described as prolonged and unresolved crises within the party. He stressed that leaving the PDP was not an impulsive move, recalling that the party had been instrumental to his political rise—first as a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007, then as Governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015, and later as a Senator from 2019 to 2023.
Suswam expressed appreciation to the PDP for the confidence and opportunities it afforded him over the years. However, he said the party had gradually lost touch with its core principles of unity, internal democracy, and credible opposition politics.
According to him, persistent leadership tussles, weak disciplinary structures, and unresolved ideological differences have continued to weaken the party, despite several reconciliation efforts and public promises of reform. He noted that these internal challenges have been allowed to drag on without any clear or effective strategy for resolution.
Describing the party’s current state as dire, Suswam likened the PDP to a patient in “political intensive care,” arguing that there is neither agreement on what is wrong nor a clear plan to fix it. He said remaining in the party had become increasingly incompatible with his personal beliefs and political ideals.
“Political parties should be vehicles for ideas, order, and meaningful engagement—not battlegrounds for perpetual internal conflict,” he stated, adding that the PDP no longer reflects those values.
Suswam said his decision to leave was both honourable and unavoidable under the circumstances. While he did not reveal his next political move or affiliation, he wished the PDP well and expressed hope that it might eventually overcome its internal divisions.
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He concluded by requesting that his resignation be formally accepted and conveyed his gratitude to party members at all levels for the years of shared political engagement.