Former Senate President David Mark has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According reports by TheCable, Mark disclosed his intention to leave the PDP in a letter addressed to the party’s ward chairman in his Otukpo LGA of Benue state.
The letter, dated June 27, surfaced shortly after the opposition coalition adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform with the former senate president as its chairman.
Mark said in the letter that his resignation from the opposition PDP is with immediate effect.
The letter reads: “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.
“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.”
Moves for a coalition that wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) started gaining momentum early in the year.
Among the coalition leaders are former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, a former transportation minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; and el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state.
Meanwhile, a faction of the ADC has kicked against the adoption of the party by the opposition coalition.
A statement by Musa Isa Matara, national the national publicity secretary of the faction, said the party is not a “private coalition platform” that should be hijacked by elite individuals.
Matara said the party’s stakeholders, including state executives, youth and women leaders, and ward coordinators, were not consulted before the decision.
“We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully.
“Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain.
“The ADC is not for sale, it belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers”, the statement warned.
Ex-senate president Mark dumps PDP amid crisis, emerges Chairman of opposition coalition
