Mark and Aregbesola
Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, a pioneer member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resigned his membership of the PDP and joined the new African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing internal divisions, unresolved leadership crisis and irreconcilable differences.
In a letter dated June 27 and addressed to the PDP Chairman in his Otukpo Ward, Benue State, Mark said that the issues in the PDP have reduced it to a shadow of its former self and exposed it to public embarrassment.
The letter reads inter alia: “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.
“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.
“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.
Explaining that the decision to leave the PDP came after extensive consultations with family, political allies, and close associates, Mark declared his next political move.
“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,” he stated.
The coalition has collapsed into one party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and it has many old political war horses as members.
They include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Osun state Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido; former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, among others.
