The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State took a dramatic turn on Monday when the party was allegedly evicted from its State Secretariat by the building’s owner, former Governor Senator Gabriel Suswam.
The building, located along the Makurdi/Otukpo road, has served as the state headquarters for the party for several years. The recent developments stem from ongoing divisions within the party between pro-Ortom and pro-Suswam factions, which led to the National Secretariat appointing a Caretaker Committee to manage the party’s affairs in the state.
However, Senator Suswam has denied the allegations of evicting the party from the premises.
In response to the situation, the immediate past Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, arranged for alternative accommodations for the party at one of his office complexes, which previously housed Oracle Business, located in the high-level area of Makurdi.
Through his Media Aide, Terver Akase, Chief Ortom accused Senator Suswam of sealing off the secretariat early Monday morning.
He said, “You know that it is the former governor who owns that building, he sealed off the building this morning, he didn’t allow the caretaker committee to enter the office.
“As a result, the immediate past governor (Ortom) in his usual generosity has donated his building to the party.
In a prompt response, Senator Suswam rejected the allegations and called for proof from those spreading the rumor.
Speaking through his Media Aide, Bartholomew Bede , he said, “they did not evict them neither did they seal off the place and if they have any proof they can provide it.
“The issue of eviction cannot arise because PDP is not even a tenant as the building was donated to the party.”