FORMER Governor of Benue State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gabriel Torwua Suswam, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s prolonged and unresolved internal crisis.
News Point Nigeria reports that Suswam’s resignation was conveyed in a letter personally signed by him and addressed to the Mbagber Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The letter was made available to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday.
In the letter, the former two-term governor said his decision to quit the PDP was taken after deep reflection and was not made lightly, given his long-standing association with the party and the opportunities it afforded him over the years.
“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,” Suswam wrote.
“For these opportunities and the trust reposed in me at different times, I remain sincerely grateful.”
Suswam, however, lamented that the PDP has become riddled with persistent internal conflicts that have defied all attempts at resolution, leaving the party dysfunctional and directionless.
According to him, the party that once symbolised unity, internal democracy and credible opposition has degenerated into an organisation plagued by leadership tussles, ideological confusion and structural instability.
“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,” he stated.
“These disputes, spanning leadership, structure, discipline, and ideology, have been allowed to fester without any clear or credible pathway to resolution.”
He noted that repeated interventions by party elders, reconciliatory committees and public assurances have failed to heal the deep-seated divisions within the party.
“In spite of repeated interventions, reconciliatory committees, and public assurances, the party continues to operate in a state of deep internal dysfunction,” Suswam said.
In a particularly scathing assessment, the former governor described the PDP as an institution on life support.
“The PDP today appears to be perpetually trapped in crisis mode; an institution in political intensive care, with no consensus diagnosis and no agreed treatment plan in sight,” he added.
Suswam said remaining in the PDP had become incompatible with his democratic values, political philosophy and desire to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“As a democrat, I find it increasingly difficult to reconcile my continued membership of the PDP with my personal convictions, political philosophy, and desire to contribute meaningfully to nation-building within a stable and functional political framework,” he said.
He stressed that political parties should be vehicles for ideas, discipline and constructive engagement, not battlegrounds for endless internal warfare.
“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,” Suswam stated.
The former senator said his decision to leave the party was honourable and necessary under the circumstances, while expressing hope that the PDP may one day find the courage and consensus to resolve its internal contradictions.
“I therefore consider it honourable and necessary to step aside, while wishing the party well should it one day find the courage and consensus to resolve its longstanding internal contradictions,” he said.
He concluded by formally tendering his resignation and thanking party members at all levels for the journey they shared over the years.
“Please accept my resignation and convey my appreciation to members at all levels for the shared journey over the years,” Suswam added.