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| David Mark is tipped to return as the Senate President |
Some stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday December 10 2015 urged people to see the forthcoming rerun election for Mark as a necessary challenge to emancipate the Idoma nation from oppression and must not allow external forces to dictate their political destiny. This was contained in a press statement signed by Paul Mumeh, the Media Assistant to Senator Mark. The stakeholders include David Mark, the former President of the Senate, Emmanuel Agbor, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Benue state, Abba Morro, the former Interior Minister and scores of political leaders in the state.
The PDP stakeholders spoke in Otukpo, Benue state when the people hosted the former Senate President to a reception following the annulment of his election by Appeal Tribunal In Makurdi a couple of weeks ago. Mark was coming home for the first time after the Appeal Tribunal annulled his election.
Addressing the crowded audience at Mark’s Otukpo country home , the leaders expressed reservations about the the Appeal Tribunal verdict but expressed confidence that another opportunity is in the offing with the forthcoming rerun to prove that the former Senate President won the March 28, 2015 election clean and clear.
Specifically, Mark urged his constituents to be calm and law abiding in their approach to the forthcoming rerun and translate their anger into good conduct and votes. “We won the election clearly and we will win again. These are trying times, but history will judge because the mandate of the people cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
“We must also be vigilant against external forces who are bent on capitalizing on the situation to divide us and weaken our collective resolve but I know their attempts would fail because only the Idoma man can decide his future and destiny.
” We know ourselves and we know where to go when the time comes. Those who want to infiltrate our ranks should by now know that Benue South is totally a PDP home and there is no room for intruders. ” We (PDP) produced a Senator, four members of House of Representatives, 10 out of 11 state House of Assembly members in our constituency, so how will any other party have a space here,” Mark queried.
In his remarks, Dr. Agbo urged the Idoma people to remain steadfast in support of the PDP saying that the forthcoming rerun is only a temporary setback because they have decided there is no going back. Also speaking, Abba Moro noted that Mark remains the undisputed choice of the Idoma nation.
Earlier, the Paramount ruler of Idoma nation HRM, Ikoyi Elias Obekpa told Mark not to worry about the Tribunal verdict. Otukpo, the country home of Mark literally stood still as citizens of all walks of life trouped out in large numbers to welcome his coming home for the first time after the Appeal Tribunal voided his election and called for rerun.
Security operatives had hectic times controlling the huge crowd of citizens who came out who to welcome Mark.Naij.com recalls that the election of the immediate past Senate president, David Mark was nullified by a Court Of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, the Benue state capital. The court also ordered for a re-run of the election within 90 Days.
Mark’s victory at the Benue south senatorial district election was challenged by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate at the election, Daniel Onjeh on the grounds that the poll was marred by irregularities. But the election petitions tribunal sitting in Makurdi had in October upheld the election of the former Senate president.