Former Senate President David Mark has formally exited the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Mark, who served as Senator for Benue South from 1999 to 2019, made the announcement in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday. His resignation was revealed just hours after he was unveiled alongside former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as interim chairman and secretary, respectively, of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a coalition platform positioning itself to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Mark, Nigeria’s longest-serving Senate President, attributed his departure to the party’s worsening internal crisis and leadership issues.
“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.
“However, 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,” the statement reads.
He further explained that his decision to leave the PDP is driven by a new political mission tied to rescuing Nigeria through a national coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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
Thank you, and may God bless you,” the statement added.
