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Former Benue State Governor and ex-Senator Gabriel Suswam has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.
Suswam completed his membership registration on Wednesday in his Mbagber Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The exercise was conducted through the APC’s ongoing e-registration platform and overseen by state organising secretary James Ornguga and Angura Bishop, on behalf of the state chairman. Bishop presented the new membership card to Suswam during the ceremony.
The news was first announced by Suswam’s Chief of Staff, Moses Ukeyima, who shared details and photos on social media, describing the moment as the former governor performing his “first duty” as a card-carrying APC member.
In a statement cited by Punch Newspapers, Suswam attributed his exit from the PDP to prolonged internal conflicts within the party. He pointed to unresolved disputes over leadership, structure, discipline, and ideology, stating that these issues had been allowed to fester without any credible pathway to resolution.
Despite the defection, Suswam expressed gratitude to the PDP for the opportunities it provided over the decades. He highlighted his roles as a Member of the House of Representatives, Governor of Benue State, and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noting that the party had given him platforms to serve the Nigerian people and that he remained sincerely grateful for the trust reposed in him.
The move comes amid ongoing political realignments in Benue State ahead of future elections. Suswam, a prominent figure in the PDP for many years, had previously served as governor from 2007 to 2015 and later represented Benue North-East in the Senate.
His defection to the APC is expected to reshape political dynamics in the state, particularly in the Tiv-speaking areas where he retains considerable influence. Analysts suggest the switch could strengthen the APC’s position in Benue, a state that has historically been competitive between the two major parties.
Neither the PDP nor APC national leadership has issued an official reaction to the development at the time of this report. Suswam has not publicly indicated any immediate plans for contesting elections under his new party.
