The re-run Election Petition Tribunal struck down the petition filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Daniel Onjeh against Senator David Mark (PDP – Benue State) on Thursday in Makurdi.
The petition had been filed after the 21 days stipulated in the constitution, making the petition invalid, according to the tribunal.
Justice Chinyere Gloria Anulube argued that the tribunal did not have the jurisdiction to preside over the suit, adding that the petition was “defective and incurably bad.”
Responding to the ruling, counsel to Senator Mark, Ken Ikonne said justice was well served, averring that the petition is just a waste of time as it is grossly incompetent.
Also speaking on the ruling, Special Assistant to Senator David Mark on Media/Benue Liaison, Dr. Adakole Elijah hailed the decision of the tribunal saying that the ruling was a classical manifestation of the revalidation of the mandate given to the former Senate President.
Elijah said: “In Benue South, we defeated APC in March 2015, the APC and its candidate went to Appeal Tribunal after our victory at the lower Tribunal and got the victory nullified. A re-run was ordered, we went back to the polls and came back victorious and that victory has today been re-affirmed by the tribunal once again”.
Benue State PDP chairman, John Ngbede said the court ruling ” is a re-affirmation of the election of Sen. Mark by Benue South zone. It shows that future of PDP in the state is bright. God is with Mark.”
It will be recalled that Senator Mark was returned winner for the 6th time for his victory after the Appeal Tribunal ordered a rerun last February.
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