Former Senate President, David Mark is set to testify in person as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State on Thursday fixed August 18 for his hearing.
His emergence as the winner of the Benue South Senatorial District election is being challenged by his only contender, Daniel Onjeh of the All Progresses Congress
Onjeh had argued that the elections were marred by electoral malpractices and substantial breaches of the Electoral Act 2011 as amended.
He also averred that INEC officials were compromised and voters were financially induced by the PDP agents at the various polling units in the district.
The petitioner, therefore, urged the court to nullify the election and order for fresh poll.
Mark’s Counsel, Kenneth Ikonne, had told the tribunal on Thursday that his client would be appearing in person to testify during the next adjourned date to enable him close his case.
Ikonne had also called five witnesses who testified that the elections were free and fair.
The witnesses denied financial inducement of voters as alleged by petitioner.
However, under cross-examination by petitioner’s Counsel, Tunji Oso, one of the witnesses, Abuh Adesi, admitted that card readers were used to accredit voters in his polling unit.
Adesi had 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-examinations, 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.