Yobe North senatorial ticket: Lawan rules out appeal against court judgement recognising Machina

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has ruled out appealing Wednesday’s judgement of the Federal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State, recognising Bashir Machina as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District election in 2023 elections.

Lawan, Thursday, while reacting to the judgement which also put paid to his return to the Senate after losing out on the Presidential ticket of the party which he contested, said he has he accepted the ruling of the court.

It would be recalled that, Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Yobe ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Machina as the authentic candidate for the senatorial district, after months of dispute between Machina and the senate president. While the latter enjoyed the backing of the party hierarchy which had even submitted his name to INEC as the preferred candidate, Machina relied on INEC’s insistence to recognise him on the ballot on the grounds that he was duly elected by party delegates at a primary which its officials observed and submitted reports on.

Responding in a statement which he personally signed, Lawan, who was first elected into the lowest chamber of the National Assembly in 1999, said he had accepted the judgement of the court.

Reacting in a statement titled; ‘Court Judgement on Yobe North Senatorial District Candidacy,’ Lawan said: “Yesterday, Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, the Federal High Court in Damaturu delivered judgement on the rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly elections. The said judgement disqualifies my candidature and therefore my participation in the elections.

“After due consultations with my political associates, supporters and well-wishers, I have decided not to appeal against the judgement. I accept the judgement. At this juncture, I deem it appropriate to thank His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, for the leadership role in the APC political family in Yobe State. I also thank His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni for the support and brotherhood.

“To my constituents, I thank you all for your unflinching support, loyalty and unreserved commitment to the course of building our people and Yobe North Senatorial District and indeed Yobe State. I want to assure you that I will continue to serve you in my personal and any other capacity at all times.

“We journeyed together for a long time, and this journey will remain a life long journey. It has been a wonderful relationship and it can only get stronger. I am indebted to you all. Alhamdulillah.”

The Federal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State had earlier fixed September 28 to rule in the suit filed by Bashir Machina, in the disputed All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for Yobe North senatorial zone against Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

While Machina won the primary election monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and stands as party candidate, the APC hierarchy, however, continued to push for the commission to adopt its preferred candidate, Lawan, as standard bearer for the 2023 polls in the senatorial zone of the state.

APC concluded its primary election for the senatorial ticket on May 28, 2022, which Machina won, while Lawan contested the party’s presidential primary poll in Abuja.

However, at the conclusion of the presidential primary election which Lawan lost, the APC had moved to replace Machina with the Senate President, claiming that the former had signed an agreement to step down for the latter.

Machina’s suit at the Federal High Court against the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Senate President Ahmad Lawan seeks to compel the electoral umpire to recognise him as duly elected candidate of the party at the 2023 polls.

Justice Fadima Aminu had reserved judgement in the suit after a heated argument among counsels to the plaintiff and the defendants.

INEC has continued to insist on adopting Machina as candidate of the APC in the Yobe North senatorial poll, as its officials monitored the primary election which produced him in the exercise which Lawan, the Senate president did not participate in, as he was involved in the presidential bid.

APC has submitted the name of Lawan to beat the deadline day for submission of candidates, prompting Machina to head to court.

INEC has urged the parties to the dispute to resolve the matter internally or seek redress in court, even as the APC risks being disqualified from the election in the state for failing to submit the name of a duly elected candidate from a primary poll conducted for the senatorial zone.