There have been more suspensions of members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, as the latest gale of suspensions hit additional 14 members.
A statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom indicates that the former Senator representing Benue North-East district and ex-Governor of the State, Gabriel Suswam tops the latest list.
Also suspended are Terngu Tsegba, Richard Gbande ,Terseer Tsumba and Nicholas Ada for alleged gross insubordination.
Others include, the Party Chairmen for, Apa, Gboko, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Logo, Otukpo, Tarka and Ukum Local Government Areas.
Bemgba recalled that the Party had summoned the affected persons on Wednesday, the 7th of August, 2024, to appear before the State Working Committee (SWC) to answer to allegations made against them bothering on acts inimical to the good health and interests of the PDP, including diversion of campaign funds during the 2023 elections, sponsoring of factions and thuggery within the Party, sponsoring of Media publications of internal Party disputes, sponsoring of Court litigations against the Party without recourse to the internal dispute resolution mechanisms, among several other charges.
The former Senator Suswam, was also accused of being a spokesperson and errand runner to Governor Hyacinth Alia of the APC, to the extent that even when the PDP Governorship Candidate, Titus Uba, was still in Court challenging the outcome of the election, Suswam was alleged to be 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.
“The affected persons were required to appear before the SWC on Thursday 8th of August 2024 at the party’s State Secretariat on No. 1, Ochagwu Lawani Street, New GRA in Makurdi by 10am, 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.
“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,” the statement read in part.
The statement by the Benue State chapter of the PDP, charged 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 PDP will emerge stronger from the ongoing reformation efforts.
Editor: Ken Eseni
