Mark Slams Defections, Labels Atiku a Political Window Shopper

Jacob Mark, a former legal adviser to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has voiced strong criticism against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other PDP members allegedly aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show on Thursday, July 10, 2025, Mark dismissed these political figures as “window shoppers,” arguing that their actions lack integrity and seriousness.

In particular, Mark targeted Atiku’s recurring pattern of switching party loyalties in pursuit of a presidential ticket.

He said unless Atiku formally resigns from the PDP and officially joins the ADC, his political maneuvers cannot be taken seriously.

“Anyone who has not officially left their political party but is jumping from one to another, today in SDP, tomorrow in ADA, and now in ADC, is simply not credible,” Mark stated.

When asked directly whether this assessment included Atiku, Mark did not mince words: “Until he resigns from the PDP, I cannot take him seriously.”

Mark further argued that Atiku’s current conduct is legally questionable, citing the constitutional implications of simultaneously pursuing presidential nominations in two different political parties.

“The law does not allow someone to be actively seeking tickets in multiple parties at once,” he noted.

“You can’t be shopping in PDP and at the same time in ADC.

“You must choose one.

“It’s a matter of legality and principle.”

Delving into Atiku’s political history, Mark recalled the former vice president’s pattern of party defection over the years.

According to him, this inconsistency has fostered a culture of political instability within the PDP.

“Since around 2009 and especially in 2011, Atiku, along with five other governors, walked out of the PDP convention and formed a temporary alliance with the then-opposition,” Mark recounted.

“They campaigned, lost, and came back to the PDP.

No consequences were meted out.”

He argued that such unchecked movements set a damaging precedent and have undermined internal party discipline.

“This kind of behavior has encouraged what I call ‘political rascality’, people hopping in and out of parties without regard for loyalty or accountability.

And unfortunately, the PDP has continued to accommodate these actions without imposing any form of sanction,” he said.

Mark’s comments seem to reflect broader frustrations within the PDP and beyond.

This is as Nigerian politics continues to witness fluid alignments driven more by personal ambition than ideological commitment.

He warned that without stricter adherence to party rules and a stronger emphasis on loyalty, Nigeria’s democracy risks being reduced to a revolving door of opportunistic candidacies.

“It’s a cycle,” he said.

“When a politician doesn’t get what they want in one party, they defect.

“If they lose in the new party, they come back, expecting to be welcomed and rewarded.

“That’s not how a credible political system should operate.”

Mark’s remarks come at a time when the PDP is grappling with internal divisions and strategic uncertainty ahead of the next general elections.

Meanwhile, the ADC and other coalition-backed parties are positioning themselves as potential alternatives to Nigeria’s dominant parties.

However, the entry, whether formal or informal, of heavyweight politicians like Atiku into such platforms has sparked both intrigue and controversy.

Observers believe that the ongoing tension highlights a broader issue: the absence of a strong political ideology or binding party loyalty in Nigeria’s multiparty system.

Instead, the pursuit of power has often taken precedence over consistent values or national policy visions.

In conclusion, Mark called for institutional reforms within political parties and greater electoral accountability.

“We must stop treating politics like a marketplace where you shop for opportunities.

“Political engagement should be about service, not self-interest,” he said.

As the 2027 elections draw nearer, it remains to be seen how parties like the PDP and ADC will respond to the growing demand for transparency, loyalty, and discipline within their ranks.

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