Former Senate President, David Mark, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared his intention to join forces with other opposition leaders in a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Mark, who served as Senator representing Benue South from 1999 to 2019 and holds the record as Nigeria’s longest-serving Senate President, announced his resignation in a statement personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
His resignation comes just hours after Mark, alongside former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as interim Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), now repositioned as a coalition platform for opposition forces.
Explaining his decision, Mark blamed deepening divisions and persistent leadership crises within the PDP for his exit.
“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,” his statement read.
Mark noted that despite his long-standing loyalty and efforts to rebuild the PDP after its 2015 presidential defeat, the party has been reduced to a shadow of its former self.
“Over the years, I have remained firm and deeply committed to the ideals of the PDP. Even when nearly all stakeholders departed following our loss in 2015, I pledged to remain the last man standing. I worked to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the party, efforts which, without sounding immodest, restored the PDP to national relevance,” Mark stated.
He, however, lamented that “recent events marked by deepening divisions, persistent leadership crisis, and irreconcilable differences have subjected the party to public ridicule.”
The former Senate President said his decision followed wide consultations with political associates, family, and friends, adding that the coalition movement represents a genuine effort to rescue Nigeria.
“After wide consultations, I have resolved to join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement as part of the collective effort to rescue our nation and preserve our hard-earned democracy,” he declared.
