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Tag: Onjeh

  • Otukpo robbery attack: Onjeh condoles Idoma Nation, families, friends, victims

    Otukpo robbery attack: Onjeh condoles Idoma Nation, families, friends, victims

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 senatorial candidate for Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has expressed shock and grief over the dastardly chain of armed robbery attacks unleashed on Otukpo, the ancestral and political capital of the Idoma nation last Friday, which left scores of innocent citizens dead.

    In a statement on Monday, Onjeh expressed deep condolences with the entire Idoma nation, the families, friends and colleagues of the hapless victims of the incident, as well as the Police, which lost some gallant officers including the Divisional Police Officer in the gale of daredevil armed invasion and robbery of several banks and the Otukpo Police Divisional Headquarters. 

    Onjeh strongly condemned the incident, which has inflicted intense pain and sorrow on the Idoma Kingdom and prayed against a recurrence such dark day in the annals of the Idoma nation. 

    “While it serves very little consolation the reported killing of two and arrest of four alleged members of the robbery gang by security forces, I call on the security apparatus to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all the fleeing perpetrators of the heinous crime are promptly apprehended and brought to face the full wrath of the law,” Onjeh said. 

    Read Also: Benue FA set to reclaim Otukpo Township Stadium

    The former Chairman of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu, also called for thorough investigation into the gory incident, noting that it appeared to be the handiwork of a soulless, blood-thirsty organized crime syndicate whose entire roots must be traced, uprooted and completely annihilated from Benue State to ensure that the good citizens of the state do not fall victims to its sanguinary craving in the future. 

    Onjeh further appealed on the security architecture in the state to adopt a more proactive approach towards detecting and preventing such scale of organized crime in the city, and to equally expedite its response time to distress calls, adding that a timely response could have mitigated the adverse effects of the robbery attack that reportedly lasted for well over an hour. 

    “ This unfortunate incident is indeed a wake up call for the Idoma people; I therefore, wish to further call for the unity of the idoma people. There’s no doubt that if we stand united, we can stamp out these criminal elements which are coming in different guises to inflict untold pain on our people,” Onjeh said. 

  • Benue South: A’Court reserves judgment in Onjeh’s Appeal against Moro

    Benue South: A’Court reserves judgment in Onjeh’s Appeal against Moro

    The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved for judgment the appeal filed by Comrade Daniel Onjeh, the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 senatorial candidate for Benue South, challenging the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal which upheld INEC’s declaration of Sen. Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)  as winner of the Saturday, 25th February, 2023 Senatorial election held in Benue South. 

    Comrade Onjeh is praying the Court of Appeal to declare him the true winner on the ground that the first respondent in the matter, Sen. Abba Moro, was not qualified to contest the election in the first instance, having presented a forged birth certificate to INEC. 

    He is also asking the court to declare all the votes allotted to Sen. Moro in the election as wasted votes, and accordingly declare him – being the first runner-up – the true winner of the election.

    Onjeh is further challenging the outcome of the election on the grounds of noncompliance with the Electoral Act 2022 (As Amended) as well as on irregularities, amongst others.

     He asked the court to cancel all what he called unlawful votes allotted to Abbo Moro occasioned by noncompliance and irregularities, and to re-tabulate the results of the last Benue South senatorial election and declare him the true winner, having polled the highest number of valid votes.

    Read Also: Disregard Akume’s detractors, Onjeh tells Tinubu

    Comrade Onjeh, who formerly served as Chairman of the Governing Board of PRODA, Enugu, filed a four-ground Notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Makurdi, following his disenchantment with the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal, which upheld the declaration of Sen. Moro as the winner. 

    But after all the briefs of argument by the lawyers of both the Appellants and the Respondents had been exchanged, the matter was transferred to the Court of Appeal, Abuja.   

    Consequently, the three-man panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, comprising Justices A.O. Otisi; A. Obaseki and A.M. Lamido, heard Onjeh’s appeal, following which all the briefs previously exchanged on the appeal were adopted and the matter was reserved for judgment. 

  • Disregard Akume’s detractors, Onjeh tells Tinubu

    Disregard Akume’s detractors, Onjeh tells Tinubu

    Former Chairman, Governing Board of PRODA, Enugu and the APC 2023 senatorial candidate for Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has described as spurious, slanderous and the handiwork of mischievous louts and idle minds, recent allegations by a group self-styled the Benue Progressive Forum for Good Governance, that the grand reception organised in honour of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the Transcorp was a launching pad for the SGF preparatory to his bid to run for the 2027 presidential elections.

    In a statement on Friday, Onjeh urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard what he termed the, “amorphous group of agents provocateur, 

    who are obviously doing the bidding of the SGF’s ignoble detractors.”

    Recently, a group, the Benue Progressive Forum for Good Governance, allegedly addressed a briefing in Makurdi, published on Channels TV website on September 18, 2023, in which they called on President Tinubu to caution the SGF over his 2027 presidential ambition. 

    The group also claimed amongst others, that Akume’s purported presidential ambition is “one of the reasons he has allegedly been trying to undo other politicians in the North-Central Geopolitical Zone, particularly, Benue State, so as to emerge as the sole candidate from the zone come 2027”. 

    Read Also: US court stays order for release of Tinubu’s academic records   

    Reacting to the group’s allegations, Comrade Onjeh, who is also a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), decried what he termed, “the egregious calumny of some politicians who played the game with complete disregard for decorum, propriety, and sportsmanship.”

    Onjeh stated that Senator Akume had no plans of positioning himself to run for the 2027 presidential elections as bandied. The claim, he asserted, is but a figment of the fatuous group’s imagination. The SGF, Onjeh stated, is focused on his job and the success of the Tinubu Administration.

    He implored all citizens, particularly those in the political space, to engage in constructive criticisms of public servants. This, he stated, will hold them to account for the betterment of the public which they serve. Onjeh stressed that if the so-called Benue Progressive Forum for Good Governance had constructive criticisms against Sen. Akume, based on verifiable facts and not fiction or malicious intent, it should come forward with it, as airing it will be in the public interest. However, it should eschew caustic repining and libelous pronouncements designed to derail a political opponent.  

    Akume, Comrade Onjeh asserted, has proven his political and administrative mettle since his assumption of office as the SGF. There is no question whatsoever that he is a distinguished public servant, a person who has acquitted himself well as a two-term governor, a senator and a cabinet minister. In accusing him of disloyalty, his detractors goofed beyond measure because they clearly laid bare their total ignorance of Akume’s ethos. 

    While encouraging Senator Akume to continue with the good works he has started as the SGF, Comrade Onjeh urged him to remember that if he stops to throw stones at every dog that barks at him on his way, he might not get to his destination. Onjeh therefore urged Sen. Akume to remain focused as ever on his national assignment. He also called on Mr. President to disregard the rantings of his SGF’s detractors because their vitriolic barf is spewed to the end of causing discord in the administration and ultimately derailing and grounding it.

    Onjeh also stated that malicious attacks such as the one meted out on the SGF are seldom directed at those who are not attempting to do great things. 

    “Such attacks are usually visited on those who are doing and achieving incredible feats. The SGF and the Tinubu Administration are doing – and will continue to do – great exploits and ultimately stand out as the best-performing administration in the nation’s history,” he stated. 

  • Onjeh appeals against election petition tribunal’s ruling

    Onjeh appeals against election petition tribunal’s ruling

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 senatorial candidate for Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has filed an appeal at the Appeal Court, Makurdi, seeking to nullify the judgment of the National and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the victory of Sen. Patrick Abba Moro of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the 25th February, 2023 poll. 

    A three-member panel of the National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal Holden in Makurdi, Benue State led by Hon. Justice ORY Zik-Ikeoha, on September 10 dismissed Onjeh’s petition with petition No: EPT/BN/SEN/05/2023, challenging the outcome of the exercise. 

    In their ruling, the three-member panel of the Tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove allegations of non-qualification and not being duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election against Sen. Moro as well as allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, in the conduct of the 25th February, 2023 Senatorial Election in Benue State against INEC. 

    But Onjeh, in a swift response, took to his social media channels including Facebook to announce: “It”s not over yet” as his lawyers were studying the judgment of the Tribunal and would advise on his next course of action. 

    He filed a four-ground Notice of Appeal on Friday at the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Judicial Division, challenging the entire decisions of the Tribunal. 

    The former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and former Chairman, Governing Board of the Projects Development Institute (PRODA), Enugu through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Adetunji Oso, argued that the Elections Petitions Tribunal’s ruling on his petition occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice, by upholding Sen. Moro’s victory. 

    Onjeh asked the Appeal Court to set aside the declaration and return of the 1st Respondent and declare him as the person that scored lawful majority votes cast in the election.

    Read Also: Fuel subsidy removal: Trust Tinubu on gains, Onjeh urges

    Onjeh is further asking the Appeal Court to set aside the declaration and return of the 1st Respondent on the ground that he did not score majority lawful votes because the votes credited to the 1st Respondent were wasted in law, hence declare him as the winner of the election of the Benue South Senatorial District held on 25th February, 2023; or alternatively, to set aside and annul the election on the ground that the election was invalid by reasons of non compliance and irregularities, and order a re-run election in the Benue South Senatorial District.

    In the seven-page document dated 18th September, 2023 filed at the Court of Appeal, Makurdi, Onjeh’s lead counsel, Oso, argued that the National and State Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal holding in Makurdi erred in law in holding that the 1st Respondent, Sen. Moro, was eminently qualified to have participated in the election of 25th February, 2023;  and that the argument by the Petitioners that the 1st Respondent, by supplying his place of birth as reflecting two (2) separate autonomous communities, was certainly NOT a ground to disqualify the 1st Respondent. 

    Oso argued that the Petitioners/Appellants’ case before the Tribunal was on presentation of forged certificates to INEC, adding that whereas the Petitioners/Appellants produced in evidence two certificates showing that one was a forgery of the other, the 1st Respondent did not give evidence or explain the forgery. Mr. Oso therefore contended that presentation of forged certificates to INEC is a disqualifying factor for anybody contesting for election created by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) including the election into the Senate, which the 1st Respondent contested for. 

    On another ground of appeal, Oso informed the upper court that the learned trial Judges of the Tribunal misdirected themselves when they held that, “…the Law requires the petitioners to plead the arithmetical figures contained in the result sheet, specifying the Polling Units and Wards in which the alleged errors occurred. It was our observation, upon going through the pleadings contained in the Petition that the Petitioners failed in this duty.”

    On the particulars of misdirection, he contended that the Petitioners/Appellants indeed pleaded the Polling Units, Wards and Local Governments where the irregularities and non compliance occurred during the election into the Benue South Senatorial District held on 25th February, 2023. He added that the Petitioners/Appellants pleaded arithmetical figures contained in the result sheets as recorded for each candidate and also tendered the result sheets; and that the Petitioners/Appellants again pleaded arithmetical figures showing the invalid votes, the effect of invalid votes on the overall results declared by INEC for each candidate and how the 1st Petitioner/Appellant scored majority of lawful votes.

    Further in his appeal, Com. Onjeh held that the learned Trial Judges of the Tribunal erred in law by holding thus, “…It was my observation that the quality of witnesses fielded by the Petitioners fell far below expectation in terms of their adducing credible and convincing evidence to relate or tie all the numerous documents tendered before this Tribunal…”

    Onjeh argued that the Petitioners/Appellants’ witnesses were called to and indeed demonstrated the irregularities and non compliance that occurred in the pleaded Polling Units in the Petition, adding that apart from the oral testimony of the Petitioners/Appellants’ witnesses, the documentary evidence before the Tribunal as per the Petitioners/Appellants exhibits manifestly disclosed the irregularities and non compliance pleaded and complained of in the Petition.

    Onjeh informed the Court of Appeal that the Petitioners/Appellants’ documentary evidence showing manifest, irregularities and non compliance were specifically pleaded in relation to specific Polling Unit and admitted without objection as found by the Tribunal, and that the Tribunal did not evaluate the Petitioners/Appellants’ documentary evidence which the Tribunal found to be duly Certified True Copies in relation to Section 137 of the Electoral Act and relevant provision to First Schedule to the Electoral Act. 

    On the fourth ground of Onjeh’s appeal, he held that the learned trial Tribunal erred in law in holding that, “… the totality of the evidence adduced by the Petitioners is weak, porous and lacking in substance; and cannot sustain the reliefs sought by the Petitioners; may not even in the alternative of ordering for a fresh election. He argued that the 1st Respondent admitted the unexplained unlawful alterations, mutilation and cancellations that occurred in the Polling Units pleaded were/are apparent and manifest on the face of the documentary evidence before the Tribunal without challenge. He added that The Petitioners/Appellants did not tender any of their exhibits from the bar as found by the Tribunal.

    Onjeh also contended that all the Petitioners’/Appellants’ witnesses identified the exhibits tendered by the Petitioners/Appellants, linked the exhibits to the non compliance and irregularities pleaded and were duly cross examined. 

    He further argued that the same Tribunal had in another similar Petition before it, held that Section 137 of the Electoral Act, 2022 applies in favour of a Petitioner where the non-compliance and irregularities are manifest and obvious, but did not make any findings in his Petition as to whether the Petitioners/Appellants documentary evidence discloses manifest non-compliance and irregularities.

  • Onjeh V Mark: My Petition still on course, says APC candidate

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Benue south Comrade Daniel Onjeh has said his petition against former Senate President David Mark is still on course.

    Onjeh dismissed media reports that he filed his petition out of time and it was going to be struck out soon.

    In a statement in Makurdi, the former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) stated despite delay and frustration he got from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in receiving the Certified True Copies (CTC) of electoral materials used for the election, he was still able to file his petition within the time required by law.

    He said: “Under the new electoral regime, I have within 21 days after the date declaration of the Benue South result, the election took place on February 20 the result was declared the next day, February 21 and I filled my petition on the March 13th.

  • Onjeh v Mark: Tribunal grants substituted service on Mark, PDP

    The National Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi has on Thursday granted the motion exparte filed by Mr. Daniel Onjeh of the APC for substituted service on Sen David Mark of PDP.

    Comrade Onjeh, who was the senatorial flag bearer of APC at the February 20 Benue South Senatorial District rerun election earlier filed a fresh petition before the Tribunal asking for his declaration as the winner of the poll instead of Mark.
    Joined in the petition were INEC and PDP.

    INEC had declared Mark of PDP as the winner of the poll with a margin of barely more than 12,000 votes.

    Onjeh insisted that “The purported margin of win that led to the declaration of Mark as winner of the poll was far less than the number of cancelled and rejected votes, which were over 29,000 votes.”

    According to him, evidence on the face of the Certified True Copy of result declaration sheets obtained from INEC has shown observed irregularities and noncompliance with Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    The Tribunal gave 21 days to the respondents to reply to the petition upon service following which Onjeh and APC would reply within seven days after which sitting would commence.

    However, Onjeh informed the Tribunal that the court bailiff made several attempts to effect service on the respondents to no avail.

    Delivering ruling on the motion, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Abdullahi Sanya ordered that service be effected by substituted means.

    Sanya stated that the petitioner could paste the service at the gate of Mark’s compound at No. 20, David Mark Way, Otukpo, Benue State.

    The is the second time Onjeh is coming to the Tribunal after the first time in 2015 which led to the nullification of Mark’s election that gave rise to the February 20 re-run election.

  • Onjeh takes Mark to tribunal

    Onjeh takes Mark to tribunal

    The senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 20 rerun in Benue South, Daniel Onjeh, has filed a petition at the Election Petitions Tribunal in Makurdi.

    He is praying to be declared the winner of the poll.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election with a margin of more than 12,000 votes.

    Onjeh, who addressed reporters after filing the petition, said the Certified True Copy of the result declaration sheets obtained from INEC showed irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    He said: “We have filed a petition with the hope that justice will be done and we will be declared winner.”

    Onjeh said the results in his strongholds were either cancelled or rejected without any reason.

  • Mark, Onjeh neck and neck as re-run results trickle in

    Mark, Onjeh neck and neck as re-run results trickle in

    Early results from the re-run of the Benue South Senatorial District last night showed that Chief David Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Comrade David Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were locked in a close race.

    Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were collating returns from the 102 wards across the nine local governments areas that constitute the district at press time.

    Unofficial results obtained by The Nation showed that while Mark, a former Senate president surged ahead of Onjeh in Otukpo, Apa, Agatu and Opokwu Local Government areas, the APC  flag bearer was leading  in Obi, Oju and Ohimimi local government areas.

    The election was generally peaceful although there were reports of pockets of violence in a few places.

    Turn out by voters was low.

    Both parties accused each other of thuggery and rigging.

    One of the places where violence erupted was Idabi polling unit at  Okete ,Oturkpo following a disagreement on the relocation of the polling unit.

    The APC agent at the ward was said to have kicked over the location of the polling booth there and claimed that the party had already written to INEC to relocate it due to irregularities in previous polls.

    The PDP agent insisted on the retention of the polling booth there.

    Violence soon ensued but the situation was brought under control by security men.

    The March 2015 election in the senatorial district was annulled by the Court of Appeal following a petition by Onjeh who said it was not held in substantial compliance with provisions of the electoral law.

    Some of the results at press time:

    Oju LGA, Ukpa/Ainu Ette, Ihigile PU

    APC 198, PDP 72

    Oju LGA, Oju Ward,

    Ohijile PU

    APC 142,

    PDP 132

    Ivini PU APC 153, PDP 80

    Obi LGA, Adiko Ward,

    Imade PU

    Acrred. 200,

    Result APC 132, PDP 67

    Obi LGA, Adiko Ward,

    Imade PU

    Acrred. 200,

    Result APC 132, PDP 67

    AKWUTULO PU

    APC=58, PDP=41

    EJULE PU, APC 104, PDP=48

    OBI LGA, Itogo Ward, Ebong PU, APC=157, PDP=138

    Oju LGA, Okpokpo Ward, Ogum-igwe PU

    APC=131, PDP=53

    Oju LGA, Ukpa/AInu Ette Ward, Onyoho PU

    APC 108 PDP 90

    Obi LGA, Obko Ward, Omapia PU

    APC 224, PDP 70

    Ohimini LGA,

    Aume-icho Ward,

    ONDO/ OLABE PU,

    APC 89 PDP 129

    OLEGA PU, APC 87, PDP 60

    Oju LGA, Okpokpo Ward, Ogum-igwe PU

    APC=131, PDP=53

    Ohimini LGA, Idekpa Ward Olaigbechi PU

    APC =57, PDP= 5

    Ohimini LGA, Aume Iche Ward

    AKWUTULO PU

    APC=58, PDP=41

    EJULE PU, APC 104, PDP=48

    Oju LGA, Owo ward, Omua Unit 1,

    APC= 49, PDP= 14

    Oju LGA, Okpokpo Ward, Ogum-igwe PU

    APC=131, PDP=53

    Mr. Mark’s VIP polling unit, Otukpo Town Central ward: PDP- 254

    APC – 59

    PU 003, MAMSER Office, Otukpo Town East ward:

    APC- 86

    PDP- 57

    PU 010, Otukpo Town Central ward:

    PDP – 82

    APC – 57

    PU 023, Otukpo Town

    Central ward:

    PDP – 39,    APC – 30

    AGATU

    Ogbaulu primary school PU, Ogbaulu Ward, Agatu LGA

    PDP 75

    APC 31

    Oju LGA, Owo ward, Omua

    PU 1,

    APC= 49, PDP= 14

    Oju LGA, Okpokpo Ward, Ogum-igwe PU

    APC -131, PDP – 53

    Ugbonoko polling unit

    APC – 131, PDP – 110

    OTUKPO

    Otukpo LGA Adoka-Haje, PU Aune Play Ground 1

    PDP 135 APC 38

    Otukpo LGA, Adoka Icho

    Opanehe II, Open Space

    APC 52

    PDP 70

    Ogbadibo LGA

    Orokam ward

    Court Oko polling,

    APC 105

    PDP 53

    Ekere primary school unit PDP,=98 APC30

    Ipole owukpa unit

    APC – 78

    PDP – 47

    Ocheje Oko unit

    PDP17

    APC 191

    Ipole Oko unit

    PDP = 46

    APC = 80

     

  • Alleged assassination attempt: Onjeh cries foul

    The All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) candidate in tomorrow’s Benue South rerun, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has said he is not surprised by the allegation of threat to life by his opponent, ex-Senate President David Mark.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Otukpo, the Benue South headquarters, he described the allegation as a “propaganda that is unwarranted,” adding: “It is expected of a man in the character of David Mark.”

    Onjeh alleged that the former Senate president was at the centre of violence during past elections, backed by the state’s agents, “but it is unfortunate that he no longer enjoys the federal might.”

    According to him, the propaganda is intended “to serve as a prelude to unleash terror as usual on innocent citizens and the electorate, forgetting that the era of voter inducement and intimidation is over.”

    Onjeh, who defeated Mark at the Court of Appeal, expressed worry about the killing of his supporters, including the Otukpo Caretaker Committee chairman and a supervisory councillor in Ado Local Government.

    He alleged that he received information that arms were stockpiled by his opponent’s camp and military uniforms  sewn ahead of tomorrow’s poll.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday asked Nigerians and the international community to hold Governor Samuel Ortom responsible for any breakdown of law and order before, during and after tomorrow’s rerun.

  • Benue South: Mark, Onjeh in make or mar contest

    Benue South: Mark, Onjeh in make or mar contest

    Benue-South Senatorial election re-run between Senator David Mark of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Comrade Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is generating wide interest, reports Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan

    The Benue South Senatorial District rerun election between Senator David Mark of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and Comrade Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) has been scheduled to take place next month by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the judgement ordering the rerun poll, it must take place within 90 days.

    It would be recalled that the Appeal Court sitting in Makurdi had in November last year, nullified the Benue South Senatorial District election held in April of which Senator Mark was declared winner. The court nullified the election on the grounds of substantial breaches of the Electoral Act. INEC recently said it was prepared to conduct the ordered rerun in the district.

    Candidate of the APC, Onjeh, a much younger man than his PDP counterpart, had challenged the victory of the former Senate President at the Election Petition Tribunal, alleging outright rigging, manipulation of votes and total inducement of the electorates. But the tribunal upheld the victory of the PDP.

    The tribunal presided over by Justice Dipeolu Mosumola had dismissed Onjeh’s petition against Mark and held that the petitioner, (Onjeh) failed to prove his case because, according to the tribunal, the document tendered by the petitioner were mere hearsay evidence.

    Dissatisfied, Onjeh proceeded to the Appeal Court in his determination to unseat Mark, who, but for PDP’s loss of its majority status in the Senate during the last general election, would have likely returned as Senate president for a third time, from the red chamber. He won and is now poised for a political showdown with the man many regard as the political godfather of the Idoma nation.

    Too close to call

    Ahead of the much anticipated rerun, anxiety currently pervades the air within the senatorial district in particular and Benue State in general as regards where the pendulum of victory will swing. Many analysts are of the opinion that the election for now, is too close to call.

    Dr. Phillip Saror, the state representative of the Centre for Good Governance (CGG), told our correspondent that either of the two candidates can emerge victorious at the end of the rerun election. According to him, opinions and preferences are sharply divided over the duo and their political parties.

    “The coming election is not easy to predict. It is not just about the candidates, it is also about their political parties. While it is unimaginable to say Onjeh, a political upstart, will defeat Mark, who is the undisputed godfather of Idoma politics, it is also difficult to say PDP will defeat APC anywhere in Benue state today.

    It is not just about whether or not Mark can emerge victorious again. It is also about whether the people of Benue are willing to trust PDP again. A lot of factors will come to bear on the election and at the end of the day, the outcome will go a long way in showing how the people of the senatorial district view Senator Mark’s numerous years as a political office holder,” he said.

    There have been strong agitations from some quarters within the senatorial district for Mark to pave the way for someone else, especially the younger generation, to represent Benue South at the National Assembly. The former Senate President has occupied the senate seat of the district since the return to civil rule in 1999, making him the longest serving senator in the country.

    But not a few are saying the legislative experience garnered by Senator Mark since 1999 should not be allowed to waste away. Such people believe that Mark is capable and can deliver dividends of democracy. To them, another term for him to serve his people as a Senator is not too much for a man of his political status.

    “Many don’t want to see the former Senate President disgraced politically, so they are urging the people to consider his political pedigree in the country and give him another chance. But the younger generation appears inpatient with Mark. Left to them, he is already on his way out,” Saror said.

    There is also the issue of whether the people of the district will want to remain in the opposition party. The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Benson Abounu, said that it would amount to political suicide if the Idoma people follow Mark blindly into opposition.

    “Do we now join the opposition today because David Mark wants to go for his fifth term as senator? Why does he still need four years at the Senate when in 16 years, eight of which he spent as the Senate President, he has been such a disappointment? Why does David Mark want the Idoma people to mortgage our future,” he asked?

    The Deputy Governor, who hails from the same local government with the former Senate President, called on the people of Idoma land to embrace the wind of change, reject the sinking PDP and vote for Comrade Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the re-run election.

    But the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement in Abuja recently, said the confidence of the party of retaining the senatorial seat is even stronger now that the alleged deceit of the ruling APC has become obvious to all Nigerians.

    Metuh described Mark as an asset to the nation, adding that he was sure the people of Benue-South would give him another resounding victory at the rerun election. He urged PDP supporters in Benue-South to resist any attempt to intimidate them, “especially in their determination to ensure an effective and result-oriented representation in the Senate.”

    Last minute maneuvers

    Perhaps conscious of the need to keep seeking the votes till the very last minute, the two contenders are now in a rat race for the support of the voters. Efforts to garner supports and endorsements are in top gear and the people of the district are being carried along in many ways.

    The senatorial district’s chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) recently endorsed Mark for the re-run election. A statement by Mark’s media aide, Paul Mumeh, said, the former senate president was endorsed by the Benue South chapter of CAN during a solidarity visit.

    The statement quoted the Chairman of the CAN chapter, Reverend Father Emmanuel Odufu, as saying the endorsement was a unanimous decision of their followers. “For us, we are pleased and very comfortable with you. Your sterling leadership qualities and record of achievements speak for you. We stand by you and we shall be with you all through,” Odufu reportedly said.

    The group listed various projects attracted by Senator Mark to the zone to include but not limited to the Multi-Purpose Otobi Water Dam, the Oweto/Loko Bridge, health centres, schools and more importantly, the annual scholarship awards to students.

    However, Idoma elders have thrown their weight behind Comrade Onjeh and the APC for the seat at the National Assembly. The group, under the aegis of the Idoma Elders’ Union, endorsed Onjeh as their candidate while advising Mark to bury his re-election bid.

    Speaking to newsmen in Makurdi, Okpokwu Ogenyi, the coordinator of the group said Mark does not believe that any Idoma man or woman can attain any position of high responsibility without his approval which he will never give unless allegiance is paid to him.

    “Mark is looking for a way to cover his shame as the people of Idoma are no longer ready to be further enslaved. Our position is that we want someone else to represent us at the National Assembly and that person is Daniel Onjeh. He is a young man we feel is capable of attracting development to Idoma land,” he said.

    The candidates

    Since the inception of the democratic experiment in 1999, former Senate President, Senator David Mark, has remained in the National Assembly as the senator representing Benue South. He surmounted several spirited efforts to unseat him.

    Among those he defeated to remain the longest serving Senator in the country are General Geoffrey Ejiga (rtd), Major General Lawrence Onoja (rtd) and Alhaji Abubakar Mai Shano. He also overcame several attempts to get him unseated by the tribunals and the courts.

    Before emerging a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999, Mark had served the country as Minister of Communication and the Military Governor of Niger State during the military rule of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. A highly respected chieftain of the PDP, he is seen as one of the closest to former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

    Comrade Daniel Onjeh became known in the country through his activities as a student union leader. He was the Zonal Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) Zone A between 2001 and 2002. He was then a student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

    In 2002, he contested and got elected as the President of NANS. His many battles with the Olusegun Obasanjo-led government back then endeared him to many Nigerians. He was rusticated from school on account of his activism. He was also arrested and detained on several occasions by the authorities.

    He emerged as the senatorial candidate of the APC in the last National Assembly election and during the disputed election; he was in early lead until the result began to change leading to the eventual declaration of Senator David Mark as the winner by INEC