After holding sway for eight years as Senate President, Senator David Mark has now assumed an unusual low profile at the red Chamber.
Senator Mark, who represents Benue South Senatorial District has been at the upper chamber since 1999 and he manned the driver’s seat at the Senate between 2007 and 2015, making him the longest serving Senate President ever produced in the country.
The failure of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to get the majority of the seats at the polls held in March dealt a serious blow to Mark who was very close to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan..

It was gathered that before the inauguration of the 8th Senate, there were reports that Mark had planned to maintain his status by buying Senators who are of the All progressives Congress (APC) to his side.
The alleged move did not come to fruition.
It was observed that since the emergence of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President on June 9th, Mark has been keeping mum and maintaining a solitary posture among his colleagues.
Throughout the 15 sittings of the Senate before proceeding on recess last Thursday, Mark did not utter a word at the floor even as he did not contribute to debates on pressing issues in the country.
Unlike his colleagues that moved from seat to seat to greet and exchange banters with others at the floor of the Red Chamber before commencement of sitting, it was observed that Mark always glued himself to his seat.
Another unusual thing about Mark, as observed by our correspondent was the location of his seat. At the Senate, the sitting arrangement of the Senators was based on their ranking. A high ranking Senator sits after the majority or minority leader, depending on the lawmakers’ party affiliation.
For instance, Senator Ahmad Lawan of Yobe North Senatorial district and Senator Ahmed Rufa’i Sani of Zamfara West senatorial district sit behind the Majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume as they are third timers.
But Mark who is at the Senate for the fifth time, seats at the last row on the side where the seats of Senators who are of the PDP are located.
Although his case is still at the National Assembly petitions tribunal at the moment, Mark is the highest ranking Senator.
He is closely followed by Senator Abu Ibrahim of Katsina South, Senator James Manager of Delta South and Ike Ekweremadu of Enugu West who are at the Senate for the fourth time.
A source at the National Assembly said the back seat was allocated to Mark following his request for same.
An observer said the former Senate President often assigns one of his aides to monitor the arrival of the Senate President before going into the chamber.
“I have been observing him since their resumption in July 28th. He comes only after the Senate President is seated, in an apparent move to avoid greeting his colleagues,” the observer said.
It was also observed that Mark leaves the chamber early before the adjournment of sittings.
Our correspondent sighted the arrival of Senator Mark last Wednesday when he entered the chambers through the back door, wearing white brocade in company of two policemen and few aides.