The Benue State faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned a former state governor, Gabriel Suswam, alongside four others over alleged diversion of campaign funds and engaging in anti-party activities.
The other individuals include Terngu Tsegba, a former speaker of the Benue House of Assembly; Richard Gbande, a former federal representative; Terseer Tsumba, another former speaker; and Nicholas Ada.
The spokesperson for the Benue PDP, Bemgba Iortyom, disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday that Suswam is being charged with misappropriating campaign funds, fostering divisions within the party, and supporting thuggery against it.
Iortyom further claimed that Suswam acted as a spokesperson for Hyacinth Alia, the current governor of Benue, during the 2023 elections, undermining the party’s own gubernatorial candidate.
The statement reads: “The action has become necessary following the invasion of the party’s state secretariat in Makurdi yesterday by thugs and hoodlums led by the suspended state chairman, John Ngbede, which credible intelligence reveals was under the sponsorship and support of the Suswam-led group.
“PDP observes that in the particular case of Senator Suswam, weighty allegations have been mounting against him of acts inimical to the good health and interests of the party, including diversion of campaign funds during the 2023 elections, sponsoring of factions and thuggery within the party, sponsoring of publication of internal party disputes, sponsoring of court litigations against the party without recourse to the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party, among several other things.
“Such acts and many others which Senator Suswam and his cohorts are accused of constitute a violation of Section 58 of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (as amended in 2017), and consequently, in line with provisions of the same Section of the PDP Constitution.
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According to the spokesperson for the Benue PDP, Suswam and other party leaders are scheduled to appear before the state working committee on Thursday.
In recent months, the Benue PDP has faced significant internal disputes, resulting in the emergence of various factions within the party.
During this period of turmoil, John Ngbede, the chairman of the Benue PDP, was suspended from his position.
Additionally, on Tuesday, Samuel Ortom, the former governor of the state, was suspended by the faction aligned with Ngbede.
