Former senate president embarks on fierce moves to reclaim his mandate in Benue

yinka ogunlami

December 23, 2015 9:18 PM

Following the annulment of the Benue South Senatorial district, former Senate President Senator David Mark has embarked on fierce moves to reclaim his mandate.

Former Senate President-Senator David Mark.

Following the annulment of the Benue South Senatorial district, former Senate President Senator David Mark has embarked on fierce moves to reclaim his mandate.

The Appeal Court that annulled the election pointed out that voting was still going on when the result was announced. However, this was refuted by Prof. Latif Tiamiyu, the returning officer of that election.

Prof. Latif Tiamiyu cliamed that “the result was announced after the collation of the results from the nine local government areas of the district were completed. Anything suggesting the contrary is unfounded and untrue.”

With the cancellation of the election, there have been underground activities in Benue State in the bid to acquire support for the contending parties.

Read: ‘The gods will punish anyone who collects rice and doesn’t vote for him,’ David Mark says

It was also gathered that re-election ordered by the court has torn Benue State along ethnic lines. As Vanguard observes, "the coming rerun election will be a straight fight between the Idomas of Benue south and the dominant Tivs in the North East and West." David Mark in Tiv while his major opponent is Effik.

The political tension is further heightened by the fact that David Mark's main opponent, Mr. Onjeh, is a close friend and associate of Senator George Akume. There are also several speculations that Senator Akume is his sponsor.

Although Mr Oneh has refuted the insinuation, situations indicate that he cannot wrestle against the former senate president David mark with a powerful godfather.

However, an elder PDP statesman Chief Abu King Shuluwa claimed that David mark will win the re-run election in spite of the wrangling.

“PDP will win Benue South zone, not minding that my Tiv brothers from the other two zones, who have no stake in the area are jittery about David Mark particularly," he said.

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