Former Senate President David Mark has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the party’s deep internal crisis and failure to uphold the values on which it was founded.
The resignation, submitted to the PDP national secretariat on Monday, marks the end of a political era. Mark, one of the founding members of the party and a respected elder statesman, said the PDP no longer reflects the principles of unity, discipline, and national interest that once defined it.
“The soul of the PDP is lost. What remains is a shell weakened by infighting, self-interest, and absence of leadership,” he said in his resignation letter.
Mark’s decision comes amid growing disillusionment within the opposition party, which has been rocked by unresolved leadership tussles, zoning controversies, and legal battles since its loss in the 2023 general elections.
Insiders say Mark—who served as Senate President from 2007 to 2015 and was known for his quiet influence and stabilizing presence—had long been dismayed by the direction the PDP was taking but held back for the sake of unity. Monday’s resignation appears to be his final expression of disappointment.
Sources close to the former lawmaker say he has no immediate plans to join another party but is open to supporting a national coalition aimed at restoring credible leadership in 2027.
Political observers believe Mark’s exit may deepen the cracks in the PDP, especially as it comes at a time when various opposition figures—including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai—are reportedly building a new coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
For a man once considered the moral compass of the PDP, David Mark’s departure may well signal the end of the road for the party’s old guard—and a warning of what lies ahead if urgent reforms are not undertaken.
