Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of Benue State and senator, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party over claims of internal conflicts and a lack of unity within the opposition party.
Suswam’s resignation letter was dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, and sent to the Chairman of the PDP in Mbagber Council Ward, Logo Local Government Area, Benue State.
The letter was released on Facebook by his Chief of Staff, Moses Ukeyima.
In the letter, the former governor stated that his decision was motivated by the party’s failure to settle chronic internal problems impacting its leadership, structure, discipline, and ideological direction.
He said, “I write to formally resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with effect from the date of this letter.
“This decision has not been taken lightly. 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. For these opportunities and the trust reposed in me at different times, I remain sincerely grateful.
“However, 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. These disputes, spanning leadership, structure, discipline, and ideology, have been allowed to fester without any clear or credible pathway to resolution.”
According to him, despite repeated interventions and reconciliation efforts, the party has remained trapped in a cycle of crisis, with no clear path to stability.
He stated that he could no longer reconcile his continuing membership in the party with his personal views and desire to contribute significantly to nation-building through a stable political platform.
“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,” he added.
He stated that he had opted to step down while expressing hope that the PDP will eventually find the fortitude and consensus to settle its internal issues.
As of the time of filing this report, the PDP leadership had not responded to Suswam’s resignation.
