Former Benue State Governor and ex-senator, Gabriel Suswam, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.
Suswam registered as a member of the ruling party at his Mbagber Council Ward in Logo Local Government Area during the APC’s ongoing electronic registration exercise. His registration was confirmed in a statement posted on social media by his media aide, Bartholomew Bede.
The exercise was conducted by the APC State Organising Secretary, James Ornguga, alongside Angura Bishop, with Ornguga presenting Suswam with his membership card on behalf of the state chairman.
Suswam defected after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year following a prolonged leadership dispute with his successor, former governor Samuel Ortom. He is expected to lead a significant number of his supporters into the APC.
Meanwhile, the PDP has dismissed claims that Suswam recently defected from the party, stating that he had ceased to be a member long before his registration with the APC.
In a statement issued by the PDP Publicity Secretary in Benue State, Tim Nyor, the party said Suswam had already been expelled for failing to pay membership dues for more than 12 consecutive months, in line with Section 8 of the PDP constitution.
The party added that Suswam had openly aligned himself with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), participated in its activities in the state and donated property for its use, arguing that he could not resign from a party of which he was no longer a member.
