INEC Declares David Mark Winner Of Benue South Senatorial Rerun Despite Protest. - APC Denies Congratulatory Message.
0
Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party has won the Benue South rerun election. He returns to the 8th Senate, from which the court ejected him a few months ago.The rerun was conducted after the Appeal Court annuled the March 28, 2015 election of which Mr. Mark was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission
In the rerun which took place on Saturday, the former Senate President defeated his sole challenger, Daniel Onjeh, a 41-year old former students’ leader, who contested on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, and was declared winner amid protests by his challenger, who demanded that the election be declared inconclusive. this could be because a total of 29,273 votes were cancelled, higher than the margin of win of 12,571 between Mark and Onjeh.
Declaring the results of the rerun at 5.51am on Sunday, the Senatorial Returning Officer, Ishaq Eneji, said Mr. Mark garnered 84,192 votes, leaving margin of 12,571 between him and Mr. Onjeh who scored 71,621 votes.
“Having satisfied the requirement of the law, David Bournaventure is hereby declared winner" Mr. Eneji announced.
While the PDP congratulated Mr. David Mark for winning the Benue South Senatorial rerun election, the ruling All Progressives Congress has denied congratulating the former Senate President.
The APC said the twitter handle @APCNigeria, which congratulated Mr. Mark earlier on was not an official one.
In its statement by its National Secretary, Mala Buni, the APC said, “The “congratulatory message” purportedly obtained from a twitter handle, “@APCNigeria” did not emanate from the party. The purported twitter message itself is not credited to any APC official.”
The ruling party said only its “National Chairman and the National Secretary officially speak for the party.”
While the PDP congratulated Mr. David Mark for winning the Benue South Senatorial rerun election, the ruling All Progressives Congress has denied congratulating the former Senate President.
The APC said the twitter handle @APCNigeria, which congratulated Mr. Mark earlier on was not an official one.
In its statement by its National Secretary, Mala Buni, the APC said, “The “congratulatory message” purportedly obtained from a twitter handle, “@APCNigeria” did not emanate from the party. The purported twitter message itself is not credited to any APC official.”
The ruling party said only its “National Chairman and the National Secretary officially speak for the party.”
