Benue PDP Suspends Senator Suswam, Others for Insubordination

In a controversial development within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, the party has announced the suspension of Senator Gabriel Suswam, Terngu Tsegba, Richard Gbande, Terseer Tsumba, and Professor Nicholas Ada. The suspension also extends to the chairmen of the party in eight local government areas: Apa, Gboko, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Logo, Otukpo, and Ukum.

The disciplinary action comes in the wake of charges related to gross misconduct and anti-party activities. The accused individuals were summoned by the party on Wednesday for their alleged involvement in an invasion of the party’s state secretariat in Makurdi, reportedly orchestrated by a ‘suspended’ state chairman, John Ngbede.

According to a statement from Bemgba Iortyom, the PDP’s state Publicity Secretary, the summons aimed to engage the individuals at a preliminary level, with hopes of avoiding the need for formal disciplinary measures. However, the summoned members refused to comply and did not appear before the State Working Committee (SWC) as required.

“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,” Iortyom stated.

Citing Section 58 of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), Iortyom confirmed that the suspended members would face a one-month suspension. They have also been directed to appear before the party’s Disciplinary Committee at a future date, which will be communicated to them.