David Mark
The immediate past President of the Senate, Chief David Mark has reacted to his validation of his election into the eighth Senate by asserting that the judiciary remains the hope and defender of the rights of the oppressed.
Mark, in a statement sent to DAILY POST yesterday by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, reaffirmed his faith in the sanctity of the Judiciary and rule of law in view of the National and State assembly elections petition tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue state which upheld his election.
He expressed appreciation to the judiciary for standing by the truth which led to the reaffirmation “of the mandate freely given to him by the people of Benue South Senatorial district.”
DAILY POST recalls that Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Dan Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, APC, contested the Benue South Senatorial seat in the March 28 National Assembly election.
Mark was declared winner of the election, which his opponent claimed recorded several irregularities. The APC flag bearer consequently approached the court, seeking dissolution of the poll.
Mumeh however quoted Mark as promising “to do everything that is constitutionally right to bring dividend of democracy to the door steps of his constituents and beyond”.
The statement reports that the Justice Mosumola Dipeolu-led tribunal had earlier in a unanimous judgment that lasted for over two on Tuesday, dismissed the petition brought by the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate, Comrade Daniel Onjeh challenging the election of Senator Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In the judgment, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to establish any case against Sen Mark, adding that Onjeh and his APC failed to prove allegations of rigging, multiple tumb printing, over stuffing of ballots, allocation of votes, intimidation, harassment and inducement of voters among others.
Justice Dipelou further held that the petitioner failed to substantiate any of his claims which she said was fatal to Onjeh’s case.
The tribunal therefore discountenanced scanty evidence of PW 18 (Expert witness) called by Onjeh because the witness under cross examination accepted that there was error in his data analysis.
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