The former Senate President, Senator (Dr) David A. B. Mark has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing persistent leadership crises, deepening divisions, and irreconcilable differences within the party. Mark, who served as President of the 6th and 7th Senate and was known for his unwavering loyalty to the PDP even in its darkest days, made the announcement in a resignation letter dated June 27, 2025.
Addressing the letter to the PDP Chairman of Ward 1, Otukpo, Benue State, the elder statesman expressed disappointment over the direction the party has taken in recent years. He stated that although he had worked tirelessly to rebuild and reposition the PDP after its 2015 electoral defeat, recent developments had stripped the party of its values and credibility, reducing it to “a shadow of its former self” and making it a subject of public ridicule.
David Mark, who famously remained the “last man standing” in the PDP after its 2015 presidential loss, noted that the internal strife and lack of visionary leadership had forced his hand. He disclosed that following wide consultations with family, political allies, and friends, he had resolved to join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement in Nigeria; a new platform aimed at rescuing the country and preserving its hard-earned democracy.
This resignation comes on the heels of a high-level political gathering held yesterday, where David Mark, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, and other prominent PDP stalwarts launched a broad-based coalition to salvage Nigeria from what they described as the stranglehold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The coalition, comprising former governors, ex-ministers, civil society leaders, and youth activists, is seen as a strategic alliance designed to wrestle power from the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Sources at the meeting revealed that the coalition aims to offer Nigerians a credible alternative with a clear roadmap to national healing, economic recovery, and democratic reforms. Speaking at the meeting, Atiku Abubakar reportedly decried the state of the nation under APC leadership, citing insecurity, economic hardship, and institutional decay, and emphasized the need for urgent intervention.
Political observers believe David Mark’s exit marks the beginning of a mass exodus from the PDP as the party continues to grapple with internal disunity and loss of public trust. His alignment with the newly formed coalition signals a possible merger of influential political forces committed to challenging APC dominance and rebuilding Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The PDP, once a dominant force in Nigerian politics, now faces its toughest test yet. As the 2027 election cycle draws closer, the emergence of the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political equation and offer the electorate a fresh choice beyond the APC-PDP binary.
With David Mark’s exit and the formation of a united opposition coalition front, all eyes are now on what comes next in Nigeria’s evolving political theatre.
