afrol News, 15 July - Nigerian Appeal Court has endorsed the disputed election of Mr David Mark as president of the nation's senate, dismissing a tribunal's ruling in February which nullified his election as a holder of the third highest political office in Nigeria.

A Federal Court of Appeal sitting in central city of Jos, Plateau State affirmed the election of the country's Senate president, saying it is also setting aside ruling made in February by state's electoral tribunal.

Nigeria marred by vote rigging protests and also flawed elections according to local and foreign observers, installed president Umaru Yar'Adua as the first civilian president since the country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1960.

Many observers and those who followed the case closely had expected the appeals court ruling to go against Mr Mark, according to the local reports.

Mr Antony Goldman, an independent expert on Nigeria said the result will shock a lot of people who followed the case closely.

"There had seemed a good deal of evidence to suggest that across the state voting for the senate had been less than free and fair," he said.

Nigerian courts have annulled the elections of 10 state governors and ordered fresh polls. The latest such ruling on Monday, quashed the election of Cross River state Governor Liyel Imoke of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP was declared winner in 28 of 36 state governorship elections, while Mr Yar'Adua who has made respect for the rule of law the cornerstone of his administration was named winner of the presidential race with more than 70% of the vote.

Of the 10 governorship elections overturned, re-runs have so far been held in four states, all of them won by the PDP.

Today's court ruling comes at a time when the Buene state governor, Gabriel Tor-Suswam is away to the United States of America. Widely contested Otukpo is one of the volatile towns in Benue state in electioneering matters, the others being Gboko and Tarka towns in the Tiv speaking area.

The town was volatile throughout the transition period which began in 2006, particularly with the PDP primary elections. Youths in the area are prone to taking to the streets, violently, to protest the outcome of an election.

Nigeria is Africa's second-biggest oil producer, after Angola, having dropped as the country has been marred by a series of attacks on oil plants which has led to a quarter decrease in oil production in the mineral rich state.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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