The chances of former Senate President David Mark in the rerun election for Benue South received a boost on Wednesday with an endorsement from some members of Benue State House of Assembly and some elites.
The rerun election slated for February 20, is between Mark of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Daniel Onjeh of All Progressive Congress (APC). This followed the nullification of the former Senate president’s election by the Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue state in November last year.
A statement by the Media Assistant to Mark, Paul Mumeh, said that the State House of Assembly members and some elite of the Idoma and Igede extraction of the state, told Senator Mark in Otukpo that their resolve to vote for him again is predicated on his years of meritorious services to the people and defender of their common interest.
It said that the Assembly members in their separate remarks were unanimous that Mark remained the choice for Benue South.
The statement said that the Assembly members vowed to defend their votes “no matter the gang up by external forces”.
The state lawmakers, who gave their endorsements at the meeting included; Anthony Ogbu (Ado), Adoga Onah (Oju 1), Ire Mathew (Oju 2), Joe Ojobo (Ogbadibo), Chris Adaji (Ohimini), Baba Henry Otache (Apa), Sule Audu (Agatu) and Johnson Ahubi (Otukpo Akpa).
The statement recalled that House of Representatives members from Benue South; Samson Okwu (Obi/ Oju), Ezekiel Adaji (Otukpo/Ohimini), Hassan Saleh (Ogbadibo/ Ado/Okpokwu) and Adamu Entonu (Apa/Agatu), had last week endorsed Senator Mark for the rerun election.
The statement said, “To the lawmakers, Senator Mark has provided purposeful leadership and quality representation for which the people are proud of. They recalled that it was for this reason that the people overwhelmingly voted for him in the last election and are prepared to vote for him again”.
It quoted the Benue elite under the aegis of Prosperity Group, to have said that they have embarked on sensitization especially in the grass roots on the need to vote for Senator Mark as the authentic choice with the capacity to protect and defend the interest of the Idoma people.
The spokesman of the group, Mr. Abba Adaudu was quoted to have said, “We came together as a group to rise up and challenge the expansion of domination and oppression by some external actors, who are hell bent on pulling Idoma nation down by sponsoring a candidate for the election against our interest.
“To this, Posterity Group boldly say no hence our resolve to stand by you (Mark) before, during and after the rerun election”.
In his response, Mark was said to have noted that in spite of the conspiracy against him, “I am comfortable that my people are with me. I am confident that only the people of Benue South would determine who wins the election through the ballot box”.
He promised that “for the trust and confidence reposed in me, I will carry the cross and defend the interest of my people at all times. Whatever is your interest will always be the focal point of my action and activities”.
He has only the support of the elite who are sharing the loot with him. David Mark cannot win a free and fair election. The days of impunity is over. The people of Benue state are not his slaves.