After Ortom’s suspension, Benue PDP summons Suswam for probe

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State deepened on Wednesday as the State Working Committee of the party summoned ex-governor Gabriel Suswam and four others to be questioned for alleged anti-party activities.

The others invited are a former member of the House of Representatives, Terngu Tsegba, Richard Gbande, Terseer Tsumba and Prof Nicholas Ada, as well as nine local government chairmen of the party.

The development comes two days after the party announced the suspension of immediate-past Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

The embattled Benue PDP Chairman, John Ngbede, who was himself suspended for one month by a faction of the party, said on Tuesday that Ortom was suspended for attempting to hijack the leadership of the Benue PDP.

On Wednesday, party’s Publicity Secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, announced the invitation of Suswam and others to probe over alleged anti-party activities.

Iortyom, in a statement, said Suswam and others were expected to appear before the State Working Committee on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 “to give reason(s)  disciplinary action should not be taken against them for alleged gross misconduct and anti-party activities.”

Iortyom said, “The action has become necessary following the invasion of the party’s state secretariat in Makurdi yesterday (Tuesday) by thugs and hoodlums led by the suspended state chairman, John Ngbede, which credible intelligence revealed was under the sponsorship and support of the Suswam-led group.”

The party also accused Suswam of “sponsoring  factions,  publication of internal party disputes and sponsoring of court action against the party without recourse to the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party.”

Efforts by our correspondent to get Suswam’s reaction did not succeed as none of his aides could be reached on their mobile lines.

However, a former member of the House of Representatives, Tergun Tsegba, who is Suswam’s ally, challenged Iortyom’s standing to summon Suswam and others.

Tsegba noted that Iortyom had himself been suspended.

“It’s obvious that Bemgba is impersonating because he has been suspended by his ward and ratified by the court.

“Since he said we should appear before them at the party secretariat, ask him if he can step his foot on the secretariat,” Tsegba said.