Former Senate President, David Mark, has sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political space after publicly admitting that he disobeyed directives from former President Goodluck Jonathan in order to support the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011.
Mark made the revelation during a high-profile birthday celebration held in Abuja, attended by prominent political figures, elder statesmen, and members of the political elite.
His remarks, captured in a video shared on the official YouTube channel of SYMFONI, offered rare insight into the internal political maneuvering that shaped the leadership of the National Assembly during the early years of the Jonathan administration.
Speaking candidly at the event, the former Senate President told the audience that he felt compelled to make what he described as a “confession.” According to him, he was instructed at the time to help locate certain lawmakers who were allegedly defying party arrangements over the leadership of the House of Representatives. However, Mark admitted that he deliberately chose not to carry out that directive.
In his narration, Mark explained that the group of lawmakers, led by Aminu Tambuwal, had approached him with remarkable confidence and resolve. They reportedly told him that they were determined to emerge as leaders of the House, with or without the blessing of the party hierarchy or the executive arm of government. Their boldness, he said, left a lasting impression on him.
Mark, who was Senate President at the time, said he found himself torn between strict loyalty to party decisions and his belief in mentoring young politicians who demonstrated courage and conviction. He noted that the lawmakers’ determination to stand by their principles, even in the face of political pressure, deeply influenced his decision.
According to the former Senate President, Tambuwal and his colleagues did not ask him to fight their battles openly. Rather, they sought understanding and space to pursue what they believed was right. Mark said he felt that interfering against them would amount to stifling democratic choice within the legislature.
The emergence of Tambuwal as Speaker in 2011 was widely regarded as a political upset. At the time, he was not the preferred candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, yet he secured the position with support from opposition lawmakers. The development was seen as a turning point in legislative politics, signaling a shift toward greater independence of the National Assembly.
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