I will appeal judgment against Mark - Abubakar

John Akpodovhan and Donald Kumun, Makurdi - 26.02.2008

The last may not have been heard of the nullification of Senate President David Mark’s election by the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal as the petitioner, Alhaji Usman Abubakar of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), has said he will appeal the tribunal’s judgment for not declaring him winner of that election.

Abubakar, who expressed displeasure at the judgment, told newsmen in Otukpo that going by the electoral guidelines, he should have been declared winner by the tribunal having secured the majority of lawful votes cast in the remaining seven local government areas of the senatorial district.

“I will insist that I be declared the winner because the guidelines provide that the election should be by simple majority and going by the cancellations of the results of Okpokwu and Agatu local government areas by the tribunal, I should have been declared the winner of that election because I have the majority of the votes cast in the remaining seven local government areas; I am not happy with this judgment, I definitely will go on appeal,” he said.