A former Governor of Benue State and one-time Senator, Gabriel Suswam, has formally withdrawn his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributing his decision to prolonged internal wrangling and the absence of unity within the opposition party.
Suswam communicated his resignation in a letter dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, which was addressed to the PDP Chairman in Mbagber Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The letter was made public on Facebook by his Chief of Staff, Moses Ukeyima.
In the correspondence, the former governor explained that his exit followed the party’s inability to address deep-rooted internal disputes that have continued to undermine its leadership, organisational structure, discipline, and ideological focus.
He wrote, “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with effect from the date of this letter.
“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.
“However, 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.”
Suswam noted that several reconciliation attempts had failed to restore stability, leaving the party trapped in what he described as a continuous cycle of crisis.
He said he could no longer justify remaining in the PDP, stressing that his personal values and aspiration to contribute effectively to national development required a more stable political environment.
“I believe that political parties must serve as platforms for ideas, discipline, and constructive engagement, not arenas of endless internal warfare.
“Regrettably, the current state of affairs within the PDP no longer aligns with these ideals,” he stated.
The former senator added that he had decided to step away from the party, while expressing optimism that the PDP might someday overcome its internal challenges and rebuild consensus.
As of the time this report was filed, the PDP leadership had not issued any official response to Suswam’s resignation.