Former Senate President, David Mark, has rejected claims that the Doctrine of Necessity was initiated by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). He insisted that the historic decision was taken solely by the Senate and not influenced by any governor or political group. Mark made this clarification while reacting to comments by former Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi.

Speaking in Abuja at the public presentation of Abdullahi’s memoir, The Loyalist, Mark explained that the Doctrine of Necessity was a legislative move taken to stabilise the country during a period of serious political uncertainty. According to him, the Senate acted independently to protect Nigeria’s democracy when President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was absent due to ill health.

Mark stressed that the doctrine, which allowed then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to assume office as Acting President in February 2010, had nothing to do with the NGF or its former chairman, Bukola Saraki. He said the senators at the time collectively took responsibility for the decision and were guided only by national interest, not external pressure.

While Abdullahi claimed in his book that the NGF first proposed the idea, Mark firmly dismissed this version of events. He maintained that the Senate alone conceived, debated, and approved the Doctrine of Necessity, adding that the lawmakers of that era must be credited for stepping in to rescue the nation from a constitutional crisis.