TheCable

David Mark, former senate president, says he won the March 28 parliamentary election in Benue south senatorial district and will repeat the feat if elections were to be conducted “100 times”.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Paul Mumeh, his spokesman, the fifth term legislator called for calm over the appeal court ruling.

The court upturned his victory and ordered the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

But Mark says his people love him and would stand by him again in the fresh election

“I won the election clean and clear. If we go back to the polls 100 times, I will still win convincingly,” the statement read.

“Whatever the situation may be, one thing I know is that my people are solidly behind me. They also appreciate the fact that I have done more than enough to lift up Idoma nation to a position of eminence in the contemporary political history of Nigeria.”

Daniel Onjeh, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, who accused Mark of rigging, filed a petitioned the tribunal to upturn the victory of his opponent.

But Mosunmola Dipeolu, who led the tribunal, dismissed Onjeh’s petition, saying he could not substantiate his claims.

The APC candidate headed to the appeal court to challenge the verdict of the panel and on Saturday, the appellate court ruled in favour of Onjeh.

Mark, who was first elected in 1999, is the only Nigerian to have led the upper chamber for eight consecutive years.