Mark: The verdict, the journey so far and shape of things to come

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 24.02.2008

The ruling of the Benue State National Assembly/Governorship & Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday on the election of Senate President, Senator David Mark seemed to have completed the circle of nullifications that had bedeviled the April 21, 2007 election in the three Senatorial Districts of Benue State.

Two other Senators, the former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume (Benue North East) and the former military administrator of Katsina State, Senator Joseph Akaagerger (Benue Central) had previously had their elections upturned by the same tribunal, which also nullified the election of Hon.Tsenu Tsegba, the Speaker Pro-Tempore during the saga that saw to the exit of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh.

The gale of nullifications may be a confirmation of the fears of the opposition parties that there were lots of untoward occurrences during the elections of 2007, but then it has also opened fresh vista in the political terrain.

The order of that tribunal that elections be conducted in two of the nine local governments that make up Benue South Senatorial District, where Senator David Mark comes from, has obviously raised a number of questions.

Mark occupies the nation’s number three seat, by virtue of his election as the Senator representing Benue South in the upper legislative chamber. He is also a three time Senator, having won elections into the seat in 1999, 2003 as well as the 2007 elections.

Besides, the consideration of ranking in the Senate did a bit of good work for him in the build up to the election on the floor of the Senate on June 5 2007.

Though it didn’t turn out to be the decider, as Senator Akume, a non ranking Senator was allowed to slug it out with him on the day of the election; Mark had long ago been positioned as the occupant of the seat by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thus enhancing his visibility in a way.

But since he emerged the President of the Senate, Mark has shown that he had learnt a lot from the fall of many of his predecessors. He has won the support of his colleagues in the PDP as well as in the opposition, such that if the chance is there for the Senate to decide the way the tribunal verdict would go, Mark could easily garner a convincing victory.

He has also chosen to work hand in hand with the governor of his home state, Hon. Gabriel Suswam, who even hosted the Senate President to a state reception the very first week he emerged the number three citizen.

Suswam was to declare during a reception at the Oturkpo home of Mark that he was charging the leaders of Benue South to see that the case against David Mark was withdrawn from the tribunal.

Suswam, who stated the same position at the palace of the Ochi Idoma, the traditional ruler of the area and in many other fora gave the elders of Benue South two weeks to get the case resolved.

The candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate, Alhaji Usman Abubakar had taken Mark to the tribunal challenging the Senator’s victory in two of the nine local governments that make up the Senatorial District.

But according to Suswam, the people should learn from the leaders of Abia South Senatorial District, who withdrew the case against former Senate President Adolphus Wabara when he emerged the Senate President in 2003.

Though there were indications that the accord was working out, interest groups soon intervened, with forces outside Benue playing a major impact.

At a stage, a meeting was set up between Mark and Usman Abubakar, but accusations and counter accusations of the demand for (or offer of) N800 million later stalled further progress.

At that time, Mark and Akume were also at daggers drawn as the former governor was then bent on getting at the Senate President.

When the disagreements between the duo subsided, the Abubakar matter had gone far and Akume, who is regarded as one of the arrowheads of opposition against Mark could not ensure the withdrawal of the ruling at that stage.

With the ruling, Mark has a great opportunity to feel the love of his people, who may want to return him to the Senate with an overwhelming majority of the votes, since the area being contested, happen to be his own immediate local governments.

But there is one huddle to cross. Already the matter is set for appeal as the Senate President has already indicated. There are two possibilities.

If he wins he retains the seat of Senator and Senate President, but there is the question of what happens if the Appeal upholds the tribunal ruling.

The answer should have been straightforward but the fact the mark’s election was not completely nullified unlike the situation we have witnessed before now, in the case of the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Jubril Wowo who has vacated his seat.

Will the ruling of the Appeal Court throw up some jostling for Mark’s seat? Insiders in the Senate said that some jostling had been flagged off even ahead of the ruling of the tribunal. The North Central Senators have been looking at themselves as asking whether they could not give the post a try if it goes either way.

Some insiders confirmed that some Senators have been making some strange telephone calls in recent times, but the move is not widespread yet.

If that happens, which some Mark’s loyalists would not want to contemplate, it could be an all comers affair as the rule on ranking would most certainly be jettisoned.

Another reality is that why the courts are there to decide, it would be pretty difficult to dislodge Mark or cut down his influence on the current Senate.

Whatever happens, his loyalists are bound to retain the leadership of the upper chamber.