•David Mark
A former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing deepening internal divisions, unresolved leadership crisis, and irreconcilable differences.
Mark was a founder member of the PDP when it became a political party in 1998, reports Channels TV.
In a letter dated June 27 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Otukpo Ward, Benue State, sighted by our correspondent today, Mark said that the issues in the party had reduced it to a shadow of its former self and exposed it to public embarrassment.
“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.
The former Senate President, however, lamented that recent internal conflicts had subjected the party to public ridicule.
“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.
Explaining that the decision to leave the PDP came after extensive consultations with family, political allies, and close associates, Mark 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.
Mark joined the Senate in 1999 and became the Senate President in 2007.
He served as the senator representing Benue Central Senatorial District for 16 years, having been sworn in in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015.
He is renowned as one of the most loyal members of the PDP, having not defected to another party since 1998.
His resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party and movement to another political party is his first recorded defection from the PDP.
Mark was part of a group of concerned leaders of the PDP who yesterday asked Nigerians to join in helping to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Others include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, among others.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, they called on all PDP members and Nigerians to come together in a broad coalition committed to national unity, democratic principles, security, economic recovery, and a strong fight against corruption.
SEE THE FULL RESIGNATION LETTER BELOW:
