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Wike, Ekweremadu Hail Mark’s Victory
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has congratulated former Senate President, Senator David Mark for emerging victorious in last Saturday’s re-run polls.
Mark ,a candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defeated his closest rival, Mr. Daniel Onjeh of All Progressives Congress (APC) after winning in five of the nine local government areas of Benue South Senatorial district.
According to the results announced by the INEC Returning Officer, Professor Isiaka Eneji, Mark had 18,468 votes in Otukpo, his native local government, while Onjeh polled 12,203.
In Obadigbo LGA, Mark scored 6,844 while Onjeh scored 8,882. Others are Ado LGA, Mark 6,513, Onjeh 6,370; Agatu LGA, Mark 7,986, Onjeh 3,456; Okpokwu LGA, Mark 11,935, Onjeh 6,830; Apa LGA – Mark 9,191, Onjeh 4,942.
In a congratulatory message to Senator Mark on his victory at the rerun Benue South Senatorial District Election, Wike praised the people of Benue South Senatorial District for the revalidation of the mandate of former Senate President, stating that they have proven that power resides with the people.
He said that the people of the senatorial district with their choice have appreciated Senator David Mark for his contributions to their development, democracy and National growth.
He noted that by casting their votes for the distinguished former Senate President, the Benue South Senatorial District constituents extended a worthy gift to the outstanding lawmaker.
He urged Senator David Mark to continue to play his stabilising role at the National Assembly for the present dispensation to benefit from his vast experience in legislative matters.
While praying God to grant Senator David Mark good health to discharge his responsibilities to his constituents and the nation, Wike appealed to him to accommodate his political opponents as a political father for the greater good of the Benue South Senatorial District.
Recall that the Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi, had on November 28 last year nullified the election of the former senate president, upturning his confirmation last October as winner of the March 28, 2015 senatorial election by the election petitions tribunal.
The appeal court also ordered a rerun of the poll within 90 days of its ruling.
Similarly, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, congratulated the immediate past Senate President, David Mark, on his victory in the rerun election for the Benue South Senatorial seat, held on Saturday.
Ekweremadu, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja, described the victory as one, which reaffirmed Mark’s April 2015 victory in the senatorial district.
He, therefore, tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission, to remain focused in the conduct of the remaining rerun elections.
He commended the people of the Benue South district for their vigilance and gallantry in defence of democracy.
He noted that the people, “proved, once again, that you cannot deceive all the people all the time.”
He stressed that both the senatorial district and the nation’s democracy were better off with the victory of Mark, who was the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party for the poll, given his national pedigree, institutional memory, legislative experience, and commitment to national development.
Ekweremadu said, “I congratulate Senator Mark and our loyal party men and women on this well-deserved victory, which reaffirms his previous victory in April 2015.
“We have always been confident that even if the election should be conducted a million times, PDP and Senator Mark would still win as many times.”
Ekweremadu, expressed worry over the postponement of the National Assembly rerun election in Imo North Senatorial District.
But he urged the people to remain calm and steadfast, just as he called on INEC to do everything within its powers to ensure the sanctity of the electoral process.
He said, “I urge the people of areas where reruns are being expected to emulate the vigilance and determination of the people of Bayelsa and now Benue South because they not only voted, but defied intimidation and manipulations to ensure that their votes counted; and they did so within the ambit of the law.
In a related development, the PDP also won the three legislative positions contested for in Saturday’s House of Representatives rerun polls in Taraba State.
In Kogi State results of the rerun ordered by the Court of Appeal for eight constituencies were only partially declared as the senatorial rerun election in two districts, Kogi East and Central, were declared inconclusive based on reasons yet to be fully disclosed.
The PDP, however, received some boost in the Ogirimagongo/Okene federal constituency where its candidate won unopposed as well as getting three additional new members in the state assembly rerun election.
In Benue South as well as in Taraba, the closeness of the vote tally showed how tense the repeat polls were . Already, the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff, on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) has congratulated Mark on his victory which he said left no one in doubt of the popularity of the veteran senator and the PDP not only in Benue State, but also in the North Central geo-political zone.
The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary,
Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday described Mark as a valuable statesman and national leader intensely needed in the Senate, while thanking Nigerians for their renewed support for the PDP and its candidates as demonstrated in recent elections across the country.
“It is instructive to note that the PDP had won 70 percent of all the polls conducted since May 29, 2015, a development that underlines the fact of its deep roots and popularity as a brand, irrespective of the temporary setback of the 2015 general elections.
“We therefore call on all members of our great party to respond to the gesture by Nigerians by uniting behind the ideals of the PDP and visions of its founding fathers and reposition the party for the challenges ahead.”
Taraba Resident Electoral Commissioner Habu Zarma who announced PDP’s victory at a press briefing yesterday in Jalingo said the PDP candidate, Dan-Asabe Hosea, won the Sardauna/Kurmi/Gashaka Federal Constituency with 37,645 votes, while his closest rival, Ibrahim Elsudi of the APC got 37,609 votes.
The commissioner added that the former Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Abel Diah of the PDP, also defeated Emmanuel Bongo of the APC for the Mbamnga state constituency with 7,825 votes as against 5,642 votes.
He said that Emmanuel Dame of the PDP got the victory for Ardo Kola state constituency with 12,138 votes over Sanusi Janbawaile of the APC who got 11,047 votes. The REC thanked stakeholders for ensuring peaceful elections across the affected areas in the state.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Yola had in December 2015 nullified the elections in the constituencies and ordered a rerun in some polling units across the three local government areas of the state.
In Kogi East senatorial rerun, the returning officer declared the exercise inconclusive following a controversy stoked by one Abdulwahab Yunusa who claimed to be the Labour Party (LP) candidate.
Ibrahim Itodo the original candidate whose name was submitted to INEC had withdrawn from the race but the party substituted him against the directive of INEC that they could not substitute their candidates for the rerun.
The PDP candidate, Attai Ali Aidoko was leading 46, 800 against LP’s 11, 090.
INEC seemed not too sure of what to do on a petition by a candidate they did not recognise hence they had to confer with the headquarters.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner Halilu Pai was not available when The Guardian called to ascertain the true position of things .
However, the Head of Department , Voter Education in the INEC office, Daniel Kure said they were still consulting and were waiting for directives from their Abuja office.
In Kogi Central Senatorial rerun , Ahmed Salau Ogembe of the PDP scored 45, 468, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi of Progressive People Aliance (PPA) 31, 163, while Dr. Moses Wakili of Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 9, 962.
INEC Returning Officer Mr. Salihu James, declared the result inconclusive following the cancelation of over 20,000 votes which affected the entire Otutu ward, two polling units at Upogoro in Okene Local Council and also in Karaworo , Eresuha and Inozomi wards in Adavi Council due to disruption of the process.
In Okene/Ogorimagogo Federal Constituency, Tijani Damisa of PDP was elected unopposed.
For Kogi East State Assembly rerun, Hassan Baiwa Abdullai of the APC won in Okura Constituency, with 8,515 t while in Dekina/Biraidu Idoko Moses Ododo also of the APC, won.
Earlier, former Senate President and winner of the February 20 Benue South Senatorial District re-run election, David Mark, had appealed to his main challenger, Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to join him in moving Idomaland forward.
Mark made the call yesterday during his first press conference after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared him winner.
“I want to thank all sons and daughters of Idomaland because this victory is for us, not for David Mark. I also want to urge those whose political interest might have clashed with mine to join hands with me in moving Idomaland forward,” he said.
He declared that election is over and all efforts must be geared towards the betterment of the people.
“I want to thank the people of zone c for their support and promised that I will not disappoint them.
“The election is over and I am ready to serve Idomaland again,” he added.
Dismissing calls by the APC that the election should be declared inconclusive, Senator Mark said his major concern is on how to ensure that Idomaland is better than it was in the past, adding that strength is in unity.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had earlier declared former Senate President, David Mark, of the Peoples’ Democratic Party as the winner of the rerun election in Benue South Senatorial District.
Mark defeated former student union leader and candidate of the All Progressives Congress to secure a fifth term in the Senate.
Announcing the results, yesterday morning, the Returning Officer, Prof. Ishaku Eneji, declared Mark winner with 84,192 votes; ahead of Onjeh who polled a total of 71,621 votes.
The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.
The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.
The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.
A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.
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