A former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, citing deepening internal divisions and unresolved leadership crises.
In a letter dated June 27 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Otukpo Ward, Benue State, obtained by The PUNCH on Wednesday, Mark cited deep, unresolved internal issues that have left the party a shadow of its former self and exposed it to public embarrassment.
The letter, titled “Notice of Resignation from the PDP,” partly read, “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.”
He said his efforts to rebuild, reconcile, and reposition the party helped restore it to national relevance, but that recent events had weakened the PDP beyond recognition.
Mark added, “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.”
The PUNCH reports on Tuesday that both Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, have been appointed as interim National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of the soon-to-be-launched ADC coalition platform.
