Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President has accepted the ruling of the Federal Court pronouncing Bashir Machina as the senatorial candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress for the Yobe North Senatorial zone.
Lawan made this call on Thursday, September 29, via a series of tweets on his verified Twitter handle.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, September 28,2022; Justice Fadimatu Aminu also directed the APC to submit Machina’s name to INEC; identifying him as the rightful winner of the party’s May 28 primary election in the district.
Read Also: Court Order: Bashir Machina Remains APC Yobe North Senatorial Candidate
She held that the ”phantom June 9 primary election” that produced Ahmed Lawan; the Senate President, as the winner and candidate, was a “nullity” because INEC did not monitor the election.
Aminu also discountenanced the claim that the case was statute-barred; noting that the cause of action arose on June 17, not May 28.
The judge said Machina, the plaintiff, approached the court when he discovered that the first defendant; the APC, had forwarded the name of Lawan to INEC as its candidate.
She, therefore, said the constitutional requirement of filing the case not later than 14 days from the election was not applicable.
In his tweets, the Senate President disclosed his decision not to appeal the ruling after consultations with stakeholders.
He tweeted:
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. pic.twitter.com/hIX0ZS7pOU
— Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan (@DrAhmadLawan) September 29, 2022
He explained:
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 committment 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.
