The Source Magazine Online

...News from the depth, rooted in time

		Search Fo r
		Search Fo r

HOME

ARCHIVES

SUBSCRIPTION

ADVERT RATES

ABOUT US

MAY 14, 2007 VOL. 21. NO 5

A Rejected Mandate

**President Olusegun Obasanjo**

The people of Benue south senatorial zone reject election results proclaiming Senator David Mark as winner
By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
f all elections that took place in Benue State on April 21, 2007, which comprised the presidential and National Assembly candidates, the Benue South Senatorial district appeared to be the toughest. The gladiators were the incumbent senator representing the district, David Mark of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Alhaji Usman Abubakar, fondly called Young Alhaji, of the All Nigeria People’s Party, (ANPP).
Although the elections in other senatorial districts, according to The Source’s investigation also witnessed some problems, they, however, lacked the depth to be compared with what obtained in Benue south, otherwise called zone C or the Idoma people.
With these pockets of problems from the other districts, elections continued, though very late into the night as materials did not arrive on time. Then finally, winners emerged and it was very clear for everyone to detect what was likely to happen, or those who were likely to be declared winners.
Even as the presidential elections and the national assembly elections continued simultaneously, people had more interest in the national assembly elections, particularly the senatorial election. As observed, the electorate knew the National Assembly candidates personally, unlike the presidential candidates. Only the politicians could readily identify the presidential flagbearers. Again, the results of the gubernatorial elections affected so many people, such that they had little or no interest on the April 21 election.
The presidential election alone, The Source learnt, wouldn’t have generated problems in Idomaland because of the near to zero interest the people had in it, but because of the inter-personal relationship which the people had with the candidates, they were compelled to come out for the election. The message the Idoma electorate had spread – and are still canvassing – was change. This had more emphasis on the senatorial election. The people, according to The Source’s findings were not satisfied with Mark and wanted any other person to succeed him, irrespective of the party platform His main challenger this time was Young Alhaji and the people were ready to vote for (him) (Alhaji Usman Abubakar).
In addition to the decision of the electorate, key political actors and particularly those in the PDP under which umbrella, Mark was contesting were not seeing eye to eye with him.
What worsened Mark’s problem was his disagreement with Governor George Akume and by extension, the state government. Instructively, Mark had always been seen as a loyal party man in the state only when he is looking for support, who when he gets his election, forgets the party, including his constituency.
Mark’s problem with the state government started long ago but it went out of hand during the much-talked about constitutional amendment which was summarised as tenure elongation or third term. Mark was a strong supporter of third term against the wishes of Benue indigens and specifically his constituency, the Idoma people.
His problem with Idoma people on the other hand is hinged on the fact that he reportedly fooled them. Mark had agitated for power shift in 2003 by assuring the Idoma people that by 2007, power would be shifted to them and so advised them to support Governor Akume. But when time came for him to continue with what he had championed, he rather became silent. Instead, he started making plans to go back to the senate for the third time. This was not in agreement with the assurance he gave the people of the area.
Mark, The Source gathered is a great friend of President Olusegun Obasanjo and so he allegedly believed, that his victory would come from the presidency. But following what he (Mark) learnt was a conspiracy against him in the state, he became restless and started desperate attempts to mend walls. The Source learnt through an insider that such moves were fruitless. The senator, we learnt, became so loyal to the state government that he picked some PDP chieftains like Chief Barnabas Gemade to help in begging for forgiveness. On Tuesday, April 17, He almost slept in Government House, Makurdi when he felt the atmosphere was not too conducive for him. Mark, as alleged did not hesitate to prostrate before the governor. This was because the governor, who himself was a candidate for Benue North east Senatorial district, had allegedly advised that everybody should face his elections. The pleadings and begging at the eleventh hour appeared not to have changed the decision already taken.
The Source gathered, though from an unconfirmed source, that when the presidency learnt of the adamant posture of the state government against Mark, the president allegedly called Governor Akume, directing him to ensure his (Mark's) success at the Senatorial polls which Akume reportedly declined to do.
With the president as his supporter, Mark allegedly started looking for ways of ensuring victory for himself. As alleged, he brought 75 policemen and soldiers to help him in achieving victory. His radio station, Joy FM, became his mouth piece as he prepared for open confrontation. The station reportedly attacked his opponents openly. It was further alleged that Mark sewed military uniforms for youths to harass and intimidate people. On the day of election, soldiers who were part of the security operatives arrested Mark with electoral materials in his jeep which was driven to the police station. Some of his boys were also caught with ballot boxes, but Mark was soon released.
While commenting, a chieftain of the party, Chief Godwin Obla, told The Source that they had allowed the people to do what they wanted. According to him, the politicians have failed the people for too long and so they (the people) should be allowed to take their decision by voting for who they want.
Comrade Abba Moro who was the state campaign co-ordinator for Yar’Adua told The Source that it would amount to anti-party activity for a PDP member not to vote a PDP candidate. The position of Morro, as alleged, was because Mark used his closeness to the president and promised him ministerial appointment.
While commenting on the conduct of the election, the Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Ogiri Ajene revealed that the people had been advised against election malpractice but to insist on free and fair polls.
But there was to be more confusion when by 3pm on the election day Governor Akume drove to Mark’s Oturkpo house. They spent no fewer than 30 minutes behind closed doors. However, the meeting was believed not to be unconnected with the election problems they had. As to whether Akume’s visit was capable of doing any good to Mark or not is still not clear. However, critics of Mark were of the view that Akume only strengthened his position on the issue.
Another confusion created by the zonal electoral officer, Mohammed Abbas, was the sacking of over 20 ad hoc staff who were trained for the conduct of elections. Where he got other people to replace the trained ones is still in doubt. A victim, Sunday Agbo, revealed that they came to the office believing that they were coming to collect the electoral materials, only to discover that their names had been removed.
As for the election proper, The Source learnt that elections were not conducted in Okpokwu and Agatu. It was instead alleged that the electoral materials were cornered to an unknown destination and people were hired to thumbprint. An ANPP agent was allegedly abducted and his whereabout is still unknown up to the time of filing this report.
As at Monday, April 23, 2007 when the result of the presidential election was announced, that of the National Assembly election in the state was not announced simply because of what people alleged was to satisfy somebody somewhere. The Source which wanted to know the position of things on that Monday had to escape from the military men stationed at the zonal headquarters. The simple reason was that the resident INEC commissioner was not on seat. It was later learnt that he travelled to Abuja. Most journalists had the similar experience, even as a Radio Benue reporter was mercilessly manhandled.
The INEC resident commissioner, Dr. Gabriel Adah in the late hours of the day was to reveal that the senatorial elections in Benue South were inconclusive. According to him, he went to Abuja to secure a new date for the re-run of the elections. The areas affected were Okpokwu and Agatu local government areas.
But on April 24, the commissioner, during a press briefing announced the National Assembly results. According to the results, Chief Joseph Akaagerger won in Benue North East Senatorial district with 626,757 votes, Dr. George Akume won with 532,671 votes for Benue North West while Senator David Mark won in Benue South with 225,917 votes.
The declaration of results for Benue South contradicted his earlier position that elections in the area were inconclusive and that he had gone to get a new date for a re-run of the election. Adah, however, explained that the commission was misled by the returning officer. The returning officer was also said to have cancelled the results in the affected local governments for security reasons.
The Source gathered, however, that the results from these two local governments which were cancelled were in favour of Mark, who The Source learnt ran to Abuja to meet with presidency officials who allegedly summoned the resident commissioner to Abuja and handed a directive to declare him (Mark) winner of the election.
With the results released, the people of the area have started expressing their disapproval as according to them, they did not vote for Mark. The people, The Source learnt, have, therefore, vowed to resist with all legal means at their disposal, the results of the elections. Already, Young Alhaji who felt it was his mandate has vowed to retrieve the mandate which according to him was stolen by Mark.
Of the 11 House of Representatives seats in the state, the ANPP got only one, leaving the rest for the PDP.