Senate President, David Mark, weekend, defeated his political rival, retired Maj-Gen. Lawrence Onoja, for the PDP senatorial ticket in Benue South.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Paul Mumeh, the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President.

The statement said that Mark scored 1,680 votes against Onoja’s 317 at the PDP senatorial primaries for the Benue South ticket.

Announcig the result, the PDP Benue South Electoral Panel Chairman, Sen. Godwin Okpeh, said Mark defeated Onoja in the nine local government areas in the zone.

Okpeh said the election was not only free and fair but conducted peacefully, urging the electorate to remain steadfast in the forthcoming elections.

“If all our elections are conducted in this peaceful manner, we would have no problem conducting elections in this country,” he said.

Reacting to the victory, Mark said he owned the victory to God and the good people of Benue South for their support and solidarity.

“By the grace of God, I will continue to do my best and doing those things that would make my people proud.

“Their trust and investment in me would not be misplaced and I will continue to promote peace, unity and progress in our land,” he added.

He said Onoja had displayed sportsmanship, urging politicians at all levels to learn to accept defeat in good faith, reiterating that election should be a game and not war.

Mark said he was pleased with the transparent conduct of the election and the matured manner in which the delegates conducted themselves.

He advised politicians against cross-carpeting on account of defeat at the primaries, saying that such did not promote political ideology.