Ex-Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam joins APC, picks membership card

Former Governor of Benue State and ex-Senator, Gabriel Suswam, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defection comes months after Suswam cited persistent internal conflicts and leadership disputes within the PDP as his reason for leaving the opposition party.

The development was confirmed on Wednesday via a post shared on Facebook by Suswam’s Chief of Staff, Moses Ukeyima, who said the former governor completed his first official duty as an APC member by registering on the party’s ongoing e-registration platform in Mbagber Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area, Benue State.

According to Ukeyima, the exercise was supervised by the state organising secretary, James Ornguga, and Angura Bishop, acting on behalf of the state chairman, who formally presented Suswam with his new APC membership card.

Suswam had previously explained his reasons for leaving the PDP, saying:

> “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.”

He also expressed gratitude to the PDP for the platform it provided him over the years:

> “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 Member 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.”

Suswam’s defection is expected to strengthen the APC’s presence in Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections, as political analysts anticipate shifts in the state’s political dynamics.