In a stunning political shift, former Senate President David Mark has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending a 27-year-long relationship with the party he helped found in 1998. The veteran lawmaker cited deepening internal crises, persistent leadership struggles, and irreconcilable differences as reasons for his departure.
In a letter dated June 27 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in Otukpo Ward 1, Benue State, Mark expressed deep disappointment over the party's direction and state of affairs. “I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign my membership of the party with immediate effect,” he stated in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by Channels Television.
Mark, who served as Senate President from 2007 to 2015, emphasized his unwavering loyalty to the PDP through turbulent times, particularly after its 2015 defeat. “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,” he noted.
He lamented that despite his efforts, recent events have made the PDP “a shadow of its former self” and exposed it to public ridicule. “The persistent leadership crisis and deepening internal divisions have eroded the foundational values that once made the PDP the pride of Nigeria's democracy,” he said.
Though he did not immediately disclose which political group he was aligning with, credible sources confirm that Senator Mark has now joined a new opposition coalition made up of disenchanted members of various political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mark’s exit marks yet another high-profile defection in Nigeria’s shifting political landscape, potentially reshaping the opposition bloc ahead of future electoral contests.