Gabriel Suswam joins APC hours after resigning from PDP

Gabriel Suswam, a former Governor of Benue State, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, completing his registration in his village in Logo Local Government Area as part of the party’s ongoing e-registration exercise.

Suswam, who left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after disagreements with his successor, former governor Samuel Ortom, is expected to lead his large following into the APC.

Ortom had retained control of the PDP leadership even after leaving office.

“Moments ago, the former governor of Benue State H.E. Sen. Gabriel Suswam, performed his first duty as a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress APC by registering in his Mbagber Council Ward, in Logo Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria,” a statement from his media aide, Bartholomew Bede, read.

The registration was captured on the APC’s e-registration platform and conducted by state organising secretary James Ornguga and Angura Bishop.

On behalf of the state chairman, Ornguga presented Suswam with his new membership card.

Meanwhile, the PDP has clarified that Suswam’s defection does not constitute a formal exit from their party, pointing out that he had long stopped paying membership dues and had previously led his followers to relaunch the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Benue.

The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary Tim Nyor, said claims that Suswam recently decamped from the PDP into the APC were false.

“By implication, one cannot resign from a party of which one is no longer a member,” the statement added, noting that Suswam had effectively been expelled from the PDP during his active association with the ADC.