David Mark

David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark

David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark is a Nigerian politician and retired Nigerian Army brigadier general who represented Benue South in the Senate from 1999 to 2019 and served as President of the Senate from 2007 to 2015. As of August 22, 2026, Nigeria's electoral commission listed him as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress.

Star Mover ranking

Not ranked in News yet

0 points

No points are shown in this support ranking yet.

Sign in to Move Up

Profile

About David Mark

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Politician, Retired Nigerian Army brigadier general

Show full profile Hide full profile

Also known as: Senator David Mark
Known for: Nigerian national politics and legislative leadership; Benue South representation in the Nigerian Senate; African Democratic Congress party leadership
Country: Nigeria

Politician
Retired Nigerian Army brigadier general

At a glance

As of August 22, 2026, Mark was listed by INEC as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress.
He served as President of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015.
He represented Benue South Senatorial District in the Senate from 1999 to 2019.
Before entering the Senate, Mark had a military career and served as Military Governor of Niger State and as Nigeria's Minister of Communications.

Military background and early public service

Born on April 8, 1948, in Otukpo in present-day Benue State, Mark attended the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of its 3rd Regular Course and graduated in 1970. He became a brigadier general in the Nigerian Army and later retired from military service. His earlier public offices included service as Military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 and as Nigeria's Minister of Communications.

Senate career and legislative leadership

Mark represented Benue South in the Nigerian Senate from 1999 to 2019. He became President of the Senate in June 2007 and remained in that office until June 2015, completing two terms during a 20-year Senate career.

Party transition and ADC leadership

Mark resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in a letter dated June 27, 2025. Reports subsequently described different stages and titles in his transition to the African Democratic Congress leadership, including a public announcement in early July and a National Executive Committee process on July 29, 2025. Because the accounts use terms such as interim, acting, caretaker and national chairman at different points, no single unqualified appointment date is established here.

Current party role and leadership dispute

As of August 22, 2026, INEC's political-party record and the ADC website identified Mark as the party's National Chairman. His leadership had faced internal litigation, and Premium Times reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a challenge to the Mark-led leadership on July 2, 2026. The underlying full-text court judgments were not reviewed for this profile.

Timeline

1970 Graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy's 3rd Regular Course.
1984 Began service as Military Governor of Niger State.
1999 Won election to represent Benue South in the Nigerian Senate.
2007-06 Became President of the Nigerian Senate.
2015-06 Completed his second term as President of the Senate during the closing period of the 7th Senate.
2025-06-27 Dated his resignation letter from the Peoples Democratic Party.
2025-07-29 According to subsequent court reporting, an ADC National Executive Committee meeting produced the new leadership led by Mark.

Additional verified details

Current context

Senator David Mark is listed as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress on INEC's political-party record. This is a current officeholder listing; party leadership status may change through party processes, litigation or updates to INEC records.

Biographical facts

David Mark was born on April 8, 1948, in Otukpo, in present-day Benue State, Nigeria.
He attended the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna as part of the 3rd Regular Course and graduated in 1970.
Mark is a retired brigadier general of the Nigerian Army.
Before his Senate career, Mark served as Military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986 and later as Nigeria's Minister of Communications.
He represented Benue South Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate from 1999 to 2019.
He served as President of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015.
Mark resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in a letter dated June 27, 2025; the resignation was reported publicly on July 2, 2025.
Mark's ADC leadership was subject to internal party litigation; Premium Times reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a challenge to the Mark-led leadership on July 2, 2026.

Connections

Affiliations

Affiliations associated with David Mark.

African Democratic Congress National Chairman present
Nigerian Senate Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District 1999–2019
Nigerian Senate President of the Senate 2007–2015
Peoples Democratic Party Member 2025-06-27
Nigerian Senate 1999–2019