Senator Gershom Bassey
By Anietie Akpan
Senator Gershom Bassey has formally resigned from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) amid persistent internal crisis.
Senator Bassey had been one of the founding members of the PDP and one of the longest serving serving Senators representing Cross River Senatorial in the Senate until 2023 that he opted to contest for the 2023 Governorship election in the State.
In a letter dated March 12, 2026, addressed to the PDP Ward Chairman, Ward 9,
Calabar South LGA, Senator Bassey said, “I write to formally resign my membership from the PDP, a party I proudly helped to found and nurture over the years.
“This decision has not come easily. As a founding member, l invested my time, energy, and unwavering commitment in building the PDP into a formidable political platform that once embodied the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerians. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I take this step”.
He said, “the persistent internal crises, deep divisions, and unresolved conflicts that have plagued the party in recent times have made it increasingly difficult to remain optimistic about its future.
“The continuous splits within the party structure have weakened its unity and eroded the values upon which it was originally founded. The most recent crisis has unfortunately made it clear that the party is drifting further away from its ideals that once bound us together.
“Sadly, it now appears that the PDP may not be able to recover from this situation. What makes this even more painful is the apparent unwillingness of party elders and leaders to genuinely fight for its soul and restore the discipline, unity, and vision that once defined it”.
Senator Bassey stated that “for someone who was present at the birth of this great party, watching its gradual decline has been deeply disappointing. A once great institution and pillar of our Democratic experiment has been reduce to a caricature of itself.
“Nonetheless, I believe it is only honest and honorable for me to step aside rather than remain part of a system that no longer reflects the principles I stand for.
“I remain grateful for the opportunity to have served within the PDP and for the relationships and experiences built over the years.
“Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect”.
