By Muhammad Mamman
Abuja, Nigeria — Former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has announced his resignation from Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a move that deepens uncertainty within the party ahead of future elections.
Suswam, who also served as senator representing Benue North East, confirmed his decision on Tuesday, citing prolonged internal crises and what he described as the party’s failure to address deep-rooted leadership challenges.
In a resignation letter addressed to his ward chairman in Benue State, Suswam said the PDP had drifted from its founding principles, adding that repeated efforts to reconcile aggrieved members and stabilise the party had yielded little result.
“The PDP is no longer the platform it used to be,” he said, expressing disappointment over what he called persistent factionalism and weak internal democracy.
Suswam, a key figure in the PDP for more than two decades, was governor of Benue State from 2007 to 2015 and later represented the state in the Senate. His exit follows a wave of defections and internal disputes that have continued to weaken the opposition party since it lost power at the federal level in 2015.
The PDP has yet to issue an official response to Suswam’s departure.
Political analysts say his resignation could further reshape alignments within Benue State and add pressure on the PDP leadership as it struggles to regain national relevance amid growing competition from rival parties.
