Benue South Senatorial District goes to the polls for the first time without David Mark standing

VOTERS in the Benue South Senatorial District are having to go through the odd experience of participating in an election that does not include former senate president Senator David mark who has been their lawmaker since the return to democracy in 1999.

Senator Mark, 70, has represented the constituency since 1999 but today, for the first time in 20 years, the people of the zone would be casting their votes without him being in the race. Altogether, senator Mark contested for the seat five times, winning all of the elections, including a senatorial re-run in 2016.

He was the president of the sixth and seventh senates between 2007 and 2015, losing his position after his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost its majority in the senate. Today, across villages and market squares, people were seen debating over who should be the right person to represent Idoma and Igede communities in the red chamber of the National Assembly.

Although, over 16 persons are currently in the race to step into the shoes of Senator Mark three of the candidates  are considered front runners. They include former interior minister Abba Moro of the PDP, former Benue State deputy governor Steve Lawani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mike Onoja, a former permanent secretary, standing as the Social Democratic Party candidate.

Benue South Senatorial District is made up of nine local government areas and is populated by the Idoma people. Many observers believe, however, that Mr Moro would be returned because of the employment opportunities he gave to people of the area when he held sway at the ministry of interior and his magnanimity.