Skip to main content

UPDATED- Senate President, David Mark's Election Nullified

February 22, 2008
Defying threats and intimidation, the Benue State Election sat this morning in Makurdi and nullified the “election” of Senate President David Bonaventure Mark.

Both Mark and Police IG Mike Okiro had tried to use official means to cow the tribunal into postponing its ruling, or even embarking on a new trial.

But in an extensive 150-page judgment, the elections petitions tribunal led by Justice C.I Uriri today ordered that fresh elections be held in Agatu and Okpokwu Local Government Areas within 60 days. Those two areas were massively rigged by Mark to obtain his flawed mandate.

Mark’s loss of his seat came in spite of last-minute maneuvers that involved the use of police officers to intimidate his opponent, Mr. Usman Abubakar, popularly known as "Young Alhaji". Mark's opponent was declared wanted and detained for several hours less than 24-hours before the ruling.

The much-anticipated invalidation of Mark’s election elicited widespread celebrations on the streets of Makurdi and its environs.

Mark becomes the latest, and the last, of the three PDP senators from the state to have his election overturned at the tribunal. The tribunal had earlier invalidated the elections of Senators George Akume and Joseph Akhagerger, all from Benue State.

Mark’s challenger, Mr. Abubakar of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, had rejected many entreaties to accept bribery or some other political appointment order to withdraw his petition.

Over 300 policemen were present at the court.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });