Senator Ojudu clarifies statement on David Mark’s connection with election postponement

Babafemi Ojudu, the Senator representing Ekiti Central senatorial district, has clarified a statement credited to him, accusing the Senate President, David Mark, of being part of the poll shift plot.

Recent media reports had quoted Mr. Ojudu as saying the Senate President was part of the plan that led to the postponement of the general elections, earlier scheduled for February, to March 28 and April 11.

But in a statement Thursday, Mr. Ojudu clarified that Mr. Mark only said election should not be Nigeria’s priority in a speech he gave after the 2014 summer break of the Senate.

The lawmaker explained that the senate president did not specifically ask the senators to support the postponement of the general elections.

He added that Mr. Mark only maintained that the challenge of combating Boko Haram insurgency should be Nigeria’s priority rather than elections.

With the view expressed by Mr. Mark, Mr. Ojudu said he became pessimistic of the prospect of elections holding in February since Nigeria may not have defeated Boko Haram by then.

The statement read: “What I said was that when we came back from last year’s summer break, the senate president gave a speech where he said that left to him, the defeat of Boko Haram should be the nation’s priority now and not an election.

“I said from that moment on, I began to feel that the elections, as fixed for February, may not hold since the nation may not have overcome Boko Haram by then,”