Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has congratulated the new prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Oliver Abah.

Archbishop Abah of Benue Archdiocese defeated Most Reverend Amos Akindeko of Ogun Archdiocese in a keenly contested election with 90 votes against 87 to emerge the winner at the biennial conference of the Methodist Church on Sunday.

Senator Mark in a congratulatory message noted that the process of Abah’s emergence was “a true test of participatory democracy.”

He described Abah as an “eminently qualified Clergyman to lead the people of God at this trying times when the Church is under siege.”

He advised the Prelate-elect to be magnanimous in victory by being a father to all, saying, “you need all hands on deck to lead the Church successfully.

Senator Mark urged the Church to redouble their efforts to prayers for intervention, amidst the myriads of socio-economic and political problems ravaging the nation.

Senator Mark believes that in spite of the daunting challenges, especially security issues, God is always able.

“I urge you not to be deterred but rather be spurred into more prayers for the peace, security, and unity of the country”, he added.

He said the such commitment to prayers is more than ever before needed as the 2023 election gathers momentum.

Abah will be taking over the headship of the Methodist Church Nigeria from Archbishop Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche whose tenure ended on Sunday.