Mark to testify at election tribunal

David Mark, the immediate-past president of the senate, will testify before the national assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Makurdi on August 18.

Daniel Onjeh, candidate of the All Progresses Congress (APC) in the March 28 election, had challenged the declaration of Mark as winner of the poll in Benue south senatorial district.

Onjeh argued that the election was marred by electoral malpractices and breaches of the electoral act.

He also alleged that INEC officials were compromised and voters were financially induced by agents of the People Democratic Party (PDP) at various polling units in the district.

Onjeh, therefore, urged the court to nullify the election and order for fresh poll.

Kenneth Ikonne, counsel to Mark, had told the tribunal on Thursday that his client would be appearing in person to testify during the next adjourned date to enable him close his case.

Ikonne had also called five witnesses who testified that the elections were free and fair.

The witnesses denied financial inducement of voters as alleged by petitioner.

However, under cross-examination by Tunji Oso, the petitioner’s counsel, one of the witnesses, Abuh Adesi, admitted that card readers were used to accredit voters in his polling unit.

Adesi had earlier deposed in his written statement that incident forms were used for accreditation instead of card readers.

At the end of the testimonies and cross-examinations, Ikonne prayed for an adjournment, promising to close his case with the testimony of Mark.

Mosumola Dipeolu, chairman of the tribunal, adjourned the case to August 18.