By Oluwabukunmi
Political tension is mounting in Benue State as Governor Hyacinth Alia hosted a pre-defection dinner on Friday night, with former governor and leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state, Gabriel Suswam, among the invited guests.
Suswam, who governed Benue between 2007 and 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently joined the ADC following a political fallout with his successor, Samuel Ortom. His presence at the dinner has fueled intense speculation of an imminent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The closed-door dinner, held at the Government House in Makurdi, also had in attendance several notable politicians, including Dr. Paul Orhii, former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); Ojoma Ojotu, a PDP member of the House of Representatives; Anthony Agom, the lawmaker representing Okpokwu State Constituency; and David Iornem, among others.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, the state APC Publicity Secretary loyal to the governor, James Orgunga, described the event as a prelude to “great things to come” in Benue politics.
“Yes, what we are having today in Government House is a pre-defection dinner. Some people have indicated interest in joining the APC to help the governor. Others have chosen to realign politically and work with him without necessarily joining his party,” Orgunga said.
He added that the dinner marked the beginning of a new political realignment in the state, with a series of defection ceremonies expected to follow.
“After this meeting, there will be several defection ceremonies across Benue. For now, we are holding a pre-defection dinner for those leaving their parties to join the governor, as well as friends of the government, including former governor Gabriel Suswam,” he explained.
When asked directly if Suswam had agreed to defect to the APC, Orgunga replied that “it’s not forbidden if he decides to join the governor,” noting that the former governor had already identified with Alia’s administration as a “friend of the government.”
However, in a swift reaction, Suswam’s media aide, Bath Bede, dismissed the speculation as “mere rumour,” insisting that the former governor remains in the ADC.
“Those people may be defecting, but certainly not Suswam. It’s a mere rumour. You don’t expect a former governor to defect at a dinner. If Suswam is to decamp, it will be done publicly, with proper publicity and consultations with his supporters across the state,” Bede clarified.
Political observers believe the dinner forms part of Governor Alia’s broader strategy to consolidate power and rebuild his political base ahead of the 2027 general elections, following his deepening rift with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, his former political ally.
The Alia–Akume feud has reportedly fractured the Benue APC into rival factions, with many party leaders now aligning with the SGF.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes are on Suswam, whose next move could reshape the political landscape of Benue State ahead of the next election cycle.
