By Elizabeth Godwin
Former Senate President David Mark has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing deepening internal divisions and an unresolved leadership crisis. His resignation was conveyed in a letter dated June 27, addressed to the PDP chairman in his Otukpo Ward, Benue State.
In the letter, Mark expressed dismay over what he described as “deep-seated internal issues” that have eroded the party’s relevance. “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 wrote. However, he noted that recent developments have made it untenable to continue with the party.
Following consultations with his close associates, Mark announced his decision to join the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement, a broad alliance seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Mark has since been named interim chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alongside former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim secretary. Their appointments mark a major shift as the ADC becomes the chosen platform for the opposition coalition.
The coalition includes prominent political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The group had met in Abuja on March 20 to consolidate efforts to unseat the APC.
A former PDP spokesperson, Kola Ologbodiyan, confirmed that PDP leaders present at a recent meeting with Atiku Abubakar in Abuja unanimously endorsed ADC as their new political vehicle. El-Rufai also affirmed the decision via a post on his X handle. Media sources further report that former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi has been appointed as interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC.
The realignment signals a potentially formidable challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.
