Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUJA1346
2008-07-15 16:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIAN SENATE PRESIDENT WINS APPEAL, NAMED
how-toVZCZCXRO7490 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #1346 1971622 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151622Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3346 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 9577 RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001346
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN SENATE PRESIDENT WINS APPEAL, NAMED
WINNER OF ELECTION
REF: A. 2007 ABUJA 1750
B. ABUJA 355
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001346
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN SENATE PRESIDENT WINS APPEAL, NAMED
WINNER OF ELECTION
REF: A. 2007 ABUJA 1750
B. ABUJA 355
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (U) July 15th, the Appeals Court in Jos announced that
Nigerian Senate President David Mark had won his bid to
overturn the decision of the Makurdi election tribunal, which
had nullified his election and ordered a rerun in two
districts. The Appeals Court determined that the lower
tribunal had erred and outright declared Mark the winner of
the election.
2. (C) As reported ref. B, last February, the Makurdi
election tribunal had annulled the 2007 election results and
ordered a rerun in two of the nine Local Government Areas
(LGAs) which make up the Benue South Senatorial district. As
a result of this earlier verdict, Mark apparently trailed the
All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) candidate, Alhaji Usman
Maishanu Abubakar, by 74,000 votes in the total tally from
the other seven LGAs. Given a combined total of 135,000
registered voters in the two remaining LGAs and turnouts well
under 50% nationwide, it would have been next to impossible
for Mark to have won in any rerun, given his 74,000 vote
deficit.
3. (C) COMMENT: Post has yet to see a copy of the verdict,
though the decision does not seem to be a harbinger of
greater electoral transparency. Indeed, as we have reported,
Mark's initial election was one of the most dubious results
in the April 2007 polls. Regardless, Mark's victory means he
will remain President of the Senate (the third-ranking
position in the GON in protocol terms) and, as such, a
significant player on the Nigerian political scene. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN SENATE PRESIDENT WINS APPEAL, NAMED
WINNER OF ELECTION
REF: A. 2007 ABUJA 1750
B. ABUJA 355
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter Pflaumer for reasons 1.4. (b
& d).
1. (U) July 15th, the Appeals Court in Jos announced that
Nigerian Senate President David Mark had won his bid to
overturn the decision of the Makurdi election tribunal, which
had nullified his election and ordered a rerun in two
districts. The Appeals Court determined that the lower
tribunal had erred and outright declared Mark the winner of
the election.
2. (C) As reported ref. B, last February, the Makurdi
election tribunal had annulled the 2007 election results and
ordered a rerun in two of the nine Local Government Areas
(LGAs) which make up the Benue South Senatorial district. As
a result of this earlier verdict, Mark apparently trailed the
All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) candidate, Alhaji Usman
Maishanu Abubakar, by 74,000 votes in the total tally from
the other seven LGAs. Given a combined total of 135,000
registered voters in the two remaining LGAs and turnouts well
under 50% nationwide, it would have been next to impossible
for Mark to have won in any rerun, given his 74,000 vote
deficit.
3. (C) COMMENT: Post has yet to see a copy of the verdict,
though the decision does not seem to be a harbinger of
greater electoral transparency. Indeed, as we have reported,
Mark's initial election was one of the most dubious results
in the April 2007 polls. Regardless, Mark's victory means he
will remain President of the Senate (the third-ranking
position in the GON in protocol terms) and, as such, a
significant player on the Nigerian political scene. END
COMMENT.
SANDERS