In a stunning political development, former Senate President David Mark has formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending a decades-long association with the party he once helped lead through its most formidable years.

Mark, a founding member and one of the party’s most respected elder statesmen, cited deep-seated internal divisions and an enduring leadership crisis as the reasons for his decision. His resignation, confirmed on Monday morning, has sent shockwaves through the PDP hierarchy and the broader Nigerian political landscape.

In a terse but pointed resignation letter submitted to the PDP national secretariat, Mark lamented what he described as the “irreconcilable internal wrangling and absence of a coherent leadership structure,” adding that the party had strayed far from its founding ideals of unity, discipline, and national cohesion.

The 76-year-old former military officer and five-term senator served as Senate President from 2007 to 2015 and was widely regarded as a stabilizing force during turbulent political seasons. His exit is widely seen as both symbolic and consequential, highlighting the deepening cracks within Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Mark’s resignation comes amid an increasingly bitter power struggle within the PDP, particularly over the party’s national leadership, zoning arrangements, and preparations for the 2027 general elections. The party’s recent 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting was marred by boycotts, legal threats, and walkouts, even though the leaders claimed to have resolved their internal differences.

Though Mark has yet to announce his next political move, sources close to the former Senate President suggest he may retire from partisan politics altogether or join a yet-to-be-named third force gaining traction ahead of 2027.

David Mark’s exit is the latest high-profile defection from the PDP in recent months, as the party continues to grapple with waning influence, strategic disunity, and a restless base increasingly disillusioned with its direction.