Returning Officer Claims David Mark’s Election Was Free and Fair
Following the court ruling for a re-run of the Benue south senatorial election, the returning officer who conducted the election, Professor Latif Tiamiyu, has reportedly said the election which produced David Mark was free and fair.
Senator David Mark
The court of appeal, Makurdi division annulled the election of the immediate past senate president, David Mark, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections within 90 days.
According to a report by Signal.ng, the Prof. Tiamiyu disclosed that he decided to speak out to maintain his integrity.
“I have an integrity to protect and I am ready defend it at anytime. The election was peacefully conducted on March 28th. We started collation through March 29th and 30th when the result was declared”, Prof. Tiamiyu said.
“I never announced the results while collation was still going on. That didn’t happen. All the results from the nine local government areas were completely collated before I announced the results. I have an integrity to protect so I am ready to defend that at anytime.” Prof. Tiamiyu insisted for emphasis.
Meanwhile, the former Senate President, David Mark has assured that Benue South Senatorial zone will remain impenetrable for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the forthcoming re-run election.
READ ALSO: I’m So Confident And If I Contest 10 Times, I Will Win – Ishaku
He based his optimism on the overwhelming solidarity and support “by my people who are solidly behind me . I can tell you without any fear of contradiction that there is no opposition to my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in my zone.”
A statement issued on Sunday by Paul Mumeh, the Media Assistant to the Senator, quoted Mark as saying: “The Appellate tribunal judgement came as a surprise to me.
But I am happy there is opportunity for a rerun election. I can assure you that any day, any time, my people will vote for me.
“Benue South Senatorial zone is totally a PDP arrear. One Senator, the four House of Representative members, 10 out of 11 state House of Assembly members are all members of the PDP. So, clearly, there is no room for APC or any other party in my area.
“Be rest assured that under a free and fair contest, I have no challenger. My people would not be cowed or intimidated to do otherwise.
“I respect the ruling of the Appeal Tribunal, but let no one be deceived by any gimmick that the result of the election was declared while collation was still on. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer Professor Latif Tiamiyu who announced the result three days after the election, a university Professor is alive.
The election was conducted on March 28, 2015, the result was declared on March 30, 2015, how could the result have been declared before the final collation?
“For me, it is one of those ironies of life. I take it in good faith. I know as a matter of fact that my people will rise up to the challenge to vote for me and defend their votes”.
The nullification of David Mark’s election came three weeks after a the Taraba state governorship election petition tribunal voided the declaration of Darius Ishaku of the PDP as winner of the poll on the ground that Alhassan, popularly referred to as Mama Taraba, was the bonafide winner of the election.
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