JUST IN: Days after suspending Ortom, PDP suspends another ex-governor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue has suspended Senator Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state, for alleged insubordination.

The move comes a few days after the party suspended the immediate past governor of the state, Samuel Ortom.

In a statement on Thursday, Bemgba Iortyom, Benue PDP spokesperson, said Terngu Tsegba, a former speaker of the Benue House of Assembly; Richard Gbande, a former federal lawmaker; Terseer Tsumba, a former speaker; and Nicholas Ada, a professor; were also suspended.

Also suspended were the LG party chairmen of Apa, Gboko, Gwer-East, Katsina-Ala, Konshisha, Logo, Otukpo and Ukum.

Part of the statement read: "Recall that the party had summoned the affected persons yesterday, 7th August 2024, to appear before the State Working Committee (SWC) to answer to allegations made against them bordering on acts inimical to the good health and interests of the party.

"In the particular case of Senator Suswam, he was also accused of being a spokesperson and errand runner to APC's governor Hyacinth Alia to the extent that even when the PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Titus Uba, was still in court challenging the outcome of the election, Suswam was going about drumming support for the governor at public functions, with specific reference made to his speech at the burial of the late Akua Aper Aku.

"The affected persons were required to appear before the SWC today at the party's State Secretariat on No. 1, Ochagwu Lawani Street, New GRA in Makurdi by 10 am, the aim of their summons being to interact with them at a preliminary level and possibly avoid the need to take disciplinary action against them."

"They have been suspended from the party for one (1) month, and are hereby directed to appear before the disciplinary committee of the party at a date, venue and time to be communicated to them by the committee."