3 senators jostle for Mark's job - Yar'Adua, Jonathan, others declare support for him - Bankole, senators in solidarity visit

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 25.02.2008

ABOUT three senators from the North Central geopolitical zone have joined the race to replace the Senate President, Senator David Mark, if he fails to wriggle out of the current legal tango.

Mark’s election was called into question on Saturday by the election petition tribunal in Benue State which ordered fresh elections into two local governments in his senatorial district.

While messages of solidarity were still pouring in for Mark from the presidency and the party, it was gathered that a group of political leaders from the North had tipped a male ranking senator from one of the states in the zone as a possible replacement as far back as December 2007.

It was not clear what the group had against Mark, but a female senator who opposed the choice of Mark in June 2007 was said to have begun a subtle campaign among senators ahead of Saturday’s ruling.

The female senator, who is believed to have since mended fences with Mark and had warned her way into the Senate President’s camp, was said to have reached a number of senators two weeks ago and hinted at the possibility that she might be seeking the exalted office soon.

A senator who confirmed the development in an interview said that the female senator had been speaking to a number of colleagues to familiarise herself.

“You know, she called me, she wants to be Senate President, she believes that it might get to the stage when David Mark might vacate the seat, but I don’t think many of us are convinced about her roles of recent,” the senator said.

Another senator who stated that there was no division in the Senate, said that the senators would back Mark to the end. He, however, added that if it came to the election of another Senate President, the rule on ranking would be jettisoned.

“We still believe that the judicial process must be exhausted before we talk of that (electing another Senate President), but what I have seen is that some people are already positioning,” another senator told the Nigerian Tribune.

He stated that two male senators and one female had positioned themselves as successors to Mark.

A senator who mentioned the possibility of religion playing a major role in deciding the way the contest would go if it came to that, however, said that those already positioned might lose the support of the majority of the senators if that condition came into play, adding that though the rule on ranking might be jettisoned, the choices might still be limited.

Meanwhile, President Umaru Yar’Adua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan have expressed support for the continuation in office of Senator Mark.

The development is coming just as the vice president led a team of ministers on a solidarity visit to the Senate President at his official residence.

It was gathered that the presidency had expressed support for Mark and urged him to appeal the ruling of the tribunal.

While Yar’Adua, according to sources, had put a call through to the Senate President to assure him of the support of the government and the party, the vice president led a team including the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. John Odey, and the Minister of Youth Development, Senator Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, to the official residence of the Senate President for the solidarity visit.

The President, in his telephone conversation with Mark, was said to have extolled his leadership qualities, and assured him that he would rally the support of party members in his favour.

Vice President Jonathan, who led the solidarity visit, stated that Mark had given the Senate character, focus, and determination for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

The leadership of the House of Representatives had also paid a visit to Mark in his official residence.

The House team was led by the Speaker, Hon. Dimeji Bankole and also included the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Usman Nafada, among others.

It was gathered on Sunday that a number of senators had also called at the official residence to pay solidarity visits to the Senate President.