By Osondu Ahirika
Finally, for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the chickens have come home to roost.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has led his faction of the PDP out.
They’ve settled for the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), after initially toying with the SDP.
Then abandoning the idea of registering All Democratic Alliance, (ADA), which is now stillborn.
Former Senate President, David Mark has been named Interim National Chairman. Of what will portend the opposition coalition platform.
In a terse statement, Senator Mark announced his departure from the PDP.
Under this platform, he was Senate President for 8 years. His defection is not without reason.
He cited deepening divisions, persistent leadership crises, and irreconcilable differences. His resignation letter is dated June 27, 2025.
Senator Mark made true confessions.
PDP, Mark said, has been “…reduced to a shadow of its former self, subjecting it to public ridicule.”
The regret in the diction of the man who rightly described himself as the ‘last man standing’, was unmistakable.
Mark who didn’t quit, when stakeholders deserted the PDP in droves.
Following the 2015 Presidential election defeat, has had enough. PDP he thinks has lost its way.
Now this is a man who isn’t running for election come 2027. But he sees the bleak future of the badly fractured but beloved PDP.
No sane man remains in a sinking boat after a life jacket has been handed to him to go overboard.
That’s the sensible option Governor Umo Eno elected, for which some persons have called him unprintable names.
Albeit, in their political insincerity. They claim by defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he has betrayed his predecessor, Deacon Udom Emmanuel who anointed him a preferred successor.
I shudder and ask, if the former Governor would prefer his successor, God forbid, is ultimately unhorsed by the crisis-ridden PDP.
Is it for nothing that another former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has expressed grave fears?
That the PDP should prepare for more defections.
Hear him: “We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two Governor’s who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.”
I can’t be more Catholic than the Pope. Saraki is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Reconciliation Committee. Also a former two-term PDP Governor. He should know better. Yet, he blames no defector.
Conceding that all is not well with the PDP. Warning that the PDP must heal and rebound or perish.
He holds on to hope though, that the party will bounce back. We watch and wait.
One fact remains incontrovertible. Vice President Atiku, Senator Mark and all those bigwigs are jumping out of a vehicle without brakes.
If they can do this to find a political safety net, why fight Pastor Umo Eno for moving out?
Those who now, gleefully celebrate the Coalition defectors were blackmailing the Akwa Ibom Governor for leaving PDP. What changed? Why the double standard?
Mr Peter Obi and Senator Musa Kwakwanso are also shopping for a new platform to pursue their ambitions.
Seeing that the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are also steeped in confusion.
We definitely owe Pastor Umo Eno an apology. To unsay the unkind invectives some persons vomited against him.
I supported and still endorse his movement. It was a well-informed decision. Inferring from the same reasons adduced by Senator Mark for throwing in the towel on PDP.
Peace!
Ahirika is Head of Media and Advocacy Unit, Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM), Akwa Ibom State.
