By Ranti Joseph

Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday, February 12, denied the allegation made by Senator Babafemi Ojudu, claiming that he engineered the postponement of the general elections from February 14 to March 28.

Ojudu, the All Progressives Congress senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district in the upper chamber, had in a media report allegedly accused Mark of masterminding the shift of the polls.

However, Mark in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, described the allegation by Ojudu as an undignifying mischief least expected of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The statement noted that Mark, a Peoples Democratic Party senator, representing Benue South senatorial district, expressed shock and disappointment at the allegation, and swore that he never called for the postponement of the elections.

He said he never attended a meeting where the decision to postpone the election was taken, while also accusing Ojudu of attempting to ridicule his colleagues and drag the Senate into a public disrepute.

“I have neither canvassed the postponement or deferment of 2015 election nor has my body language ever suggested that. I am shocked that distinguished Senator Ojudu could descend to this level of mischief and blackmail for reasons that I am yet to understand. How could I call for the deferment of elections?”

“Whereas I ran for the primary election of my party, the People’s Democratic Party and was elected unopposed. I picked and filled the Independent National Electoral Commission forms; I had commenced a rigorous campaign that took me to the length and breadth of my senatorial district. How else could I have shown commitment to the process?” he said.

Mark explained that when the issue of insurgency came to the senate and a senator introduced the issue of election, he cautioned them stating that the issue had nothing to do with election but insurgency and terrorism.

“I do hope Senator Ojudu has not embarked on a voyage to re-write history to suit his clandestine intentions. I know these are desperate times for a lot of politicians. But it has not called for this outright mischief. Different political affiliations notwithstanding, we all have a common goal to maintain the sanctity of our peace and unity. If Senator Ojudu feels strongly about any issue, he had opportunity to make his point before his colleagues and certainly not grandstanding in the media arena,” he added.

Furthermore, Mark said he had always maintained that elections should hold as scheduled and that he also believed that the right thing should be done.

“This is not personal but in the collective interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. The country is bigger than any of us. Our unity must be held sacrosanct,” he stressed.

Janeth J