Hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission declared PDP’s David Mark victor of the Benue South Senatorial re-run, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says he will approach the Tribunal to challenge the outcome of the election.
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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.
Early result yesterday had showed both parties in neck to neck but late into the night when the LGAs results began to trickle in, the former Senate President maintained a steady lead.
Reports have it that Mark won in five local government areas while Onjeh won in four. I am happy I defeated him (Mark) and he knows that I defeated him glaringly.
He therefore contended that the election should have been declared inconclusive.
“The APC has not issued any congratulatory message on the Benue south senatorial rerun election”.
Ochekpe advised Mark to take a backseat after 16 years of representing the senatorial district in the upper chamber of the National Assembly. He is also the country’s longest served senate president.
Responding to the victory and call for supplementary election in the cancelled polling units, Senator Mark said that his election reflected the will of the people.
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While praying God to grant Senator David Mark good health to discharge his responsibilities to his constituents and the nation, Governor Wike appealed to him to accommodate his political opponents as a political father for the greater good of the Benue South Senatorial District.
