Mark to testify at tribunal on Aug. 18

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi yesterday fixed August 18 for former Senate President David Mark to testify.

Mark was taken to the tribunal by Daniel Onjeh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his declaration by INEC as the winner of the Benue South seat.

Onjeh argued that the elections were marred by malpractices and substantial breaches of the Electoral Act 2011, as amended.

He averred that INEC officials were compromised and voters financially induced by PDP agents at various polling units.

The petitioner urged the court to nullify the election and order a fresh poll.

Mark’s counsel Mr Kenneth Ikonne, told the tribunal on Thursday that his client would testify during the next adjourned date to enable him close his case.

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

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

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

Adesi earlier deposed in his written statement that incident forms were used for accreditation instead of Card Readers in his polling unit.

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

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Mosumola Dipeolu, adjourned the case to August 18, for further defence