The Senator David Mark Campaign Organization for the February 20, 2016 Benue South rerun election has told the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun to call the party’s candidate Daniel Onjeh and his campaign team to order.
The Mark campaign organization said in Otukpo, Benue state on Thursday that the continued inflammatory statements, innuendo, abuse and poor conduct of Onjeh and his campaign team ahead of the rerun election is clearly unbecoming of someone aspiring to lead.
The APC, through a certain Ogenyi Okpokwu had alleged that Senator David Mark imported some armed men into Otukpo ahead of the election.
A press statement issued by Mark’s Campaign Organization Director Media & Publicity Dr. Adakole Elijah stated: “We believe very strongly that this is another APC plot to cover its antics. We cannot fall for it. We cannot be part of this crude mentality. We demand an immediate retraction and unreserved apology forthwith”.
The statement warned that they would employ all legal, legitimate means to bring Onjeh and his team to justice.
According to the statement: “We make bold to state unequivocally that we have maintained the highest level of decorum and restrain in spite of the unwarranted provocation since the campaign started.
“It is therefore instructive to remind Chief Oyegun that as a man who comes from the great Benin Kingdom the custodian of Africa rich cultural heritage where respect for elders is a grand norm, he cannot be indulging Onjeh’s ceaseless insult on our Principal.
‘The APC does not need to attack our principal. This is an election. All they need do is to tell the people what they have done or want to do. Senator Mark cannot be the APC agenda. We have an array of what we have done for the people. We cannot join issues with them.
“Our people have now seen the difference between what our principal stands for and what the APC wants to do in Benue South. They have seen how Senator Mark influences human capital development, attracting a university to Benue South, multi billion naira Otobi water dam to address the water and electricity problems in the area, the legendary Oweto/Loko bridge to facilitate movement of goods and services as well as annual scholarship to students under David Mark scholarship Foundation among others. These are verifiable facts.
“We do not need a resort to self-help to win elections. Our people are now convinced that external forces cannot determine their destiny. They know that Senator Mark represents Idoma dreams. They have decided once again to vote for Senator Mark.
“We also need to remind Security operatives to be on the alert as the APC in Benue state is perfecting plan to unleash mayhem on Benue south during and after the elections.
“Credible information reaching us indicates that the APC is said to be sewing camouflage army and police uniforms for thugs during the election.
“But what they must know by now is that our people have resolved to take their destiny in their hands. And no amount of intimidation or external forces can change their resolve to vote for Senator a Mark.
“A forth night ago, the Benue State PDP Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Agbo alerted the security operatives of the grand design by the APC to sew fake Army uniforms for thugs to use during the election. The matter is being investigated.”
