Former Benue State governor Gabriel Suswam has denied rumors that he is defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC). In a statement released by his media aide, Bede Bartholomew, on Friday, Suswam clarified that he has no intention of leaving his current party.
The speculation began after Governor Hyacinth Alia invited various stakeholders, including Suswam, to a state dinner. Some observers suggested that Suswam might use the occasion to announce a switch to the APC. Bartholomew explained that Suswam’s attendance was simply a response to the governor’s invitation, which was extended to him in his capacity as a stakeholder in the state. The invitation, received two days before the event, was for a state banquet scheduled for 10 October 2025 and made no reference to a political gathering or a defection ceremony.
Bartholomew emphasized that Suswam’s decision to attend was based on his status as a former governor and his ongoing interest in Benue’s affairs. Social‑media rumors had claimed that Suswam would be received by Governor Alia at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Makurdi, but Bartholomew strongly refuted these reports, stating they do not reflect Suswam’s current interests or those of his supporters.
As a former governor, Suswam is considered a stakeholder in the state, and his presence at the dinner was viewed as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation with the current administration. The denial of the defection rumors marks a notable development in Benue State’s political landscape, offering clarity on party affiliations amid ongoing activities by the state’s political actors. The relationship between stakeholders, including former and current governors, is likely to remain a focal point of interest and scrutiny as the state navigates its political terrain.
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