Senator David Bonaventure Alachenu Mark, from Benue South, has emerged as the sixth Senate President in Nigeria’s 4th Republic with 68 votes to beat former Governor George Akume who scored 39 votes in a contest that lasted more than three hours.

Mark, a retired Army General who served General Ibrahim Babangida as a Diplomat, Communication Minister and Military Governor of Niger State is said to have had the backing of former President Olusegun Obasanjo against the wishes of President Musa Yar’Adua who prefers non-interference in the elections of principle officers of the legislature.

Former Governor of Enugu State and Senator-elect Chimaraoke Nnamani, who left the country for fear of being prosecuted for corruption was absent while another abstained.

Mark, the consensus candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was nominated by Senator Lee Maeba from Rivers State.

His nomination was seconded by the only Accord Party Senator, Patrick Osakwe.

The election, which was televised live, showed senators-elect signifying their choice by standing up for their candidate.

At the end of the exercise, it was obvious that Senator Mark had carried the day. Before the election, security was tight within and outside the National Assembly as thousands of supporters and well-wishers of the lawmakers were denied entry into the complex.

The police had a difficult time keeping the crowd at bay. The immediate past governor of Niger State, Engineer Abudlkadir Kure, was among the visitors denied entry into the complex.

The former governor, whose wife is among the new senators, was denied access into the gallery where important guests sat, by the sergeant-at-arm.

The sergeant-at-arm sent him back because he had no invitation card to attend the ceremony.

Guests at the ceremony included former governors, senators, ministers and traditional rulers.