former Senate President David Mark has formally departed from the party
After decades of affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he helped build, former Senate President David Mark has formally departed from the party.
In a letter dated June 27, Mark, who has been instrumental in forming the PDP since its founding, announced his resignation.
In a move that marks a change in Nigeria’s changing political environment, he was recently appointed as one of the interim heads of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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.
According to Mark, the decision to leave the PDP was made following lengthy discussions with close friends, family, and political allies. His next political move, he announced:
“I have decided 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, after extensive consultations with my family, friends, and political associates,” he said.
