JUST IN: Former President Of The Senate David Mark resigns from PDP

Former President of the Senate, David Mark, has officially announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Senator David Mark

The former Senator, who represented Benue South Senatorial District from 1999 to 2019 at the Senate, played a key role in shaping the PDP since its inception.

The development follows his recent appointment as one of the interim leaders of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move that signals a shift in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.

This announcement comes hours after Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola emerged as the interim Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) –  a coalition party adopted to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. 

Mark, who is the longest-serving Nigeria’s Senate President, blamed his decision to leave the PDP on the recent developments, especially the leadership crisis within the party. 

In his resignation letter addressed to the PDP leadership in Otukpo Ward 1, Benue State, Mark cited the party’s deep-seated leadership crisis and irreconcilable differences as the reasons behind his departure.

“The irreconcilable differences in the PDP have subjected the party to public ridicule and reduced it to a shadow of its former self,” he noted.

Reflecting on his loyalty and contributions to the PDP over the years, Mark said:

“I bring warm greetings to you and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otukpo Ward 1, and by extension, to the entire Benue State and Nigeria. I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the party with immediate effect.

“You may recall that over the years, I have remained firm and deeply committed to the ideals of the PDP. Even when nearly all stakeholders departed the party following our loss in the 2015 presidential election, I pledged to remain the last man standing.

“I have worked steadfastly to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the party, efforts which, without sounding immodest, helped restore the PDP to national relevance and made it once again a party of choice for many Nigerians,” he said.

However, he lamented that recent internal conflicts have severely weakened the party.

“Recent events marked by deepening divisions, persistent leadership crisis, and irreconcilable differences have reduced the party to a shadow of its former self, subjecting it to public ridicule,” he added.

Mark said the decision to leave the PDP came after extensive consultations with family, political allies, and close associates. He declared his next political move:

“After wide consultations with my family, friends, and political associates, I have resolved to join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement in Nigeria, as part of the collective effort to rescue our nation and preserve our hard-earned democracy,” he stated.