David Mark

The Right Honourable
Brigadier General
David Mark
GCON
12th President of the Nigerian Senate
In office
5 June 2007 – 6 June 2015
DeputyIke Ekweremadu
Preceded byKen Nnamani
Succeeded byBukola Saraki
Senator for Benue South
In office
3 June 1999 – 9 June 2019
Preceded byAmeh Ebute (1993)
Succeeded byAbba Moro
Governor of Niger State
In office
January 1984 – 1986
Preceded byAwwal Ibrahim
Succeeded byGarba Ali Mohammed
Personal details
Born (1948-04-08) 8 April 1948[1][2]
Otukpo, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now in Benue State, Nigeria)
Political partyAfrican Democratic Congress (since 2025)
Other political
affiliations		Peoples Democratic Party (1998–2025)
ResidenceAbuja
Alma materNigerian Defence Academy
Occupation
  • Politician
  • military officer
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Army
Rank Brigadier General

David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark GCON ((listenⓘ); born 8 April 1948)[1][2] is a retired Nigerian army brigadier general and politician.[3] He served as the 12th president of the Nigerian Senate from 2007 to 2015[4] and was the Senator for Benue South senatorial district from 1999 to 2019.[5] He is the interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) which he joined after his resignation from the PDP in 2025.[6] Prior to his senatorial career, Mark was the military Governor of Niger State from 1984 to 1986,[5][7] and is a one-time minister of communication.[8] He is the longest serving president of the Nigerian Senate.

Early life and education

Mark was born in Otukpo Benue State in April 1948. He attended St. Francis Catholic Practicing School before attending the Nigerian Military School. After that he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy.[9] He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1970 and became a Captain in 1971. He was Commandant of Static Communications in 1974, then later held a political post as Chairman Abandoned Properties Implementation Committee in the Eastern region in 1976.[10]

Minister

Mark headed the Communications Ministry and its two major parastatals: Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) and Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST). As Minister of Communications, Mark was sometimes known for his blunt talk; during a two-day walking tour of facilities in Akure in 1989, some union workers complained that some of its members had not been promoted since 1978. Mark's response was that those who had not been promoted may have to be retired,[10] meaning that unproductive workers will have to be let go.[11] He also espoused the opinion of death penalty for telecom cable thieves, as well as a policy of dismantling under-utilized telecom facilities citing political considerations for giving allocations to towns with limited use of phone networks.[12]

Senate of Nigeria

Mark was elected to his position as President of the Senate of Nigeria on 6 June 2007.[13]

David Mark ran for re-election to the Senate for Benue South in April 2011 and was elected for a fourth term.[14] David Mark noted that the polls pointed to his decisive victory and called for his opponents to work together to improve Nigeria.[15]

When leading the review of the Nigerian Constitution, Mark reportedly urged his colleagues to set aside their personal interests and focus on the interests of the Nigerian people.[16] After the UK criticized Nigeria's Prohibition of Same-Sex Marriage bill, threatening to pull their foreign aid, Mark responded that they "should keep [their] aid."[17] Mark called Nigeria's National Football Federation the "centre of corruption in the country," suggesting that they may need to temporarily disband to allow for reconstruction.[18]

In September 2018, making plans to contest for the Nigerian presidency, Mark appointed Zainab Abdulkadir Kure as his campaign manager and Abba Ejembi as campaign's spokesperson.[19]

Personal life

David Mark enjoys golf, tennis, and squash.[20] He is an Idoma by tribe and is married to at least 4 wives.[4][6][21]

Mark has a country house with a helicopter and helipad.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b Usman, Samson Atekojo (7 April 2023). "Senate President salutes Senator David Mark at 75". Daily Post. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b Akintola, Kehinde (7 April 2023). "Gbajabiamila salutes David Mark at 75". Nigerian Tribune. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. ^ "David Mark: Mr. Stability @ 68". Vanguard News. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b Nkwazema, Stanley; Chuks Okocha; Juliana Taiwo (2 November 2007). "House Defies PDP, Elects Bankole Speaker". Thisday online. Leaders & Company. Archived from the original on 3 November 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Senator David Mark". National Assembly of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 June 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
  6. ^ a b Omipidan, Ismail (2 September 2007). "Mark's landmark days in office". The Sun News On-line. The Sun Publishing. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
  7. ^ "David Mark". Politicians Data. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  8. ^ Mumeh, Paul (6 September 2019). "David Mark: Unfading Patriot, Still Championing Legacies At 72". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Childhood". Senate President. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  10. ^ a b Sam Egburonu. (1990). "It is High Time We Face Realities ", THISWEEK, July 2, 1990
  11. ^ "David Mark". Politicians Data. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  12. ^ Udeze, Chuka (25 June 2018). "David Mark Biography, Previous Offices, Military History And Other Facts". BuzzNigeria - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  13. ^ Aziken, Emmanuel (12 October 2007). "Marked for Battle - Akume Battles Mark for Senate Presidency". Vanguard. AllAfrica Global Media. Retrieved 3 November 2007.
  14. ^ Rotimi Akinwumi and Akinwunmi King (12 April 2011). "Mark, Tinubu, Nnamani, others greet Ngige, as APGA rejects Anambra results". Daily Independent.
  15. ^ "Benue: David Mark in controversial re-election win". New Nigerian Politics. 10 April 2011. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  16. ^ "No Fixed Position On Constitution Review – David Mark". Zimbio. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  17. ^ Fisher, Jonah (5 December 2011). "Nigerian leaders unite against same-sex marriages". BBC News. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  18. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (2 March 2012). "NFF will not comment on corruption claims". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  19. ^ Itodo, Yemi (12 September 2018). "David Mark makes new appointments for his campaign organization". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Senate President Profile". Senate President. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  21. ^ "Scam ATM Card Payment Money Transfers Example - David Mark". Consumer Fraud Reporting.
  22. ^ "David Mark's House in Benue State Has a Helicopter Landing Space on its Roof". Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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