Ex-President, Defence Minister Mount Pressure On Former Senate President To Emerge PDP National Chairman

Former Senate President David Mark is under increasing pressure to take on the role of substantive national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Leadership Newspaper reports that two influential figures, both former military generals—one a past president and the other a former Minister of Defense—have urged Mark to assume the position to help stabilize the party ahead of its national convention.

According to a party insider, there is a strong push for Mark to step in and restore order within the PDP until a new convention can be held.

Although Mark has not yet expressed any interest in the role, he hails from the North Central Zone, where there have been growing demands for the acting national chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum, to step aside and make way for a permanent replacement for Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

A source close to Mark indicated that while the former Senate President is aware of the calls for him to take charge, he is cautious about the legal complexities surrounding the party’s leadership dispute.

The insider revealed that the efforts to persuade Mark are gaining momentum, noting that he is particularly concerned about the divisions within the PDP.

“While he is willing to step in and help stabilize the party, he does not want to preside over a fractured organization,” the source said.

Another party official confirmed that several stakeholders have approached Mark, seeing him as a strong figure who is unlikely to be swayed by the different factions within the PDP—an essential quality as the party grapples with internal conflicts.

The ongoing rift between factions loyal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has deepened divisions within the party, which were recently highlighted in the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).