T
he National and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, yesterday upheld the victory of the immediate past Senate President, Chief David Mark in the March 28, 2015 election.
The Justice Mosumola Dipeolu-led tribunal in a unanimous judgment that lasted for over two and half hours dismissed the petition brought by the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate in the election, Comrade Daniel Onjeh challenging the election of Senator Mark of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
While delivering its judgment, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed to establish any case against the lawmaker, stressing that Onjeh and his APC failed to prove allegations of rigging, multiple thumb printing, over stuffing of ballots, allocation of votes, intimidation, harassment and inducement of voters among others.
The tribunal, which held that the petitioner failed to substantiate any of his claims, went on to discountenance 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.
In his reaction, Mark noted that the judiciary remains the hope and defender of the rights of the oppressed, even as he reaffirmed his faith in the sanctity of the Judiciary and rule of law.
In a statement sent to DAILY POST by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh, the former Senate President 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.”
On his part, Onjeh, a former students’ union leader faulted the dismissal of his case by the tribunal, stressing that the ruling was a miscarriage of justice. He told DAILY POST that he would appeal the case.
According to him, the decision of the tribunal was a “miscarriage of justice! My petition was dismissed without looking into the substance of my case. I’m headed for appeal.”
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