Nigerian Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said he will not appeal the decision of a Federal High Court affirming Bashir Sheriff Machina’s candidacy as the All Progressives Congress’ duly elected candidate for the Yobe North senatorial election in 2023.
The court gave the judgement in Yobe on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by Lawan on Thursday, the Senate President who currently represents Yobe North in the National Assembly said he has accepted the court’s decision disqualifying him from running for office and participating in the election.
The Senate President said after thorough deliberation with his political allies, followers, and well-wishers, he decided to accept his political destiny with regard to the 2023 elections.
The statement titled ‘Court Judgement on Yobe North Senatorial District Candidacy,’ reads: “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.
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“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.”
There had been controversy over the APC Yobe North senatorial ticket.
Machina won the primary election organised by the party in May.
Meanwhile, Lawan participated in the presidential primary election organised by the APC in June but lost to former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu.
Machina was asked to step down for Lawan but he insisted that he would not withdraw for the Senate President.
Amid the controversy, the APC submitted the Senate President’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North.
Aggrieved, Machina instituted a suit asking the court to declare him as the authentic senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election.
In the judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Fadimatu Aminu nullified the parallel primary election that produced Lawan on June 9, 2022.
The judge also ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary held in May.
Reacting in a statement, Machina described the judgement as a victory for justice, calling on all his supporters, and indeed the people of Yobe North, to remain peaceful, and not to react in the face of any provocation.
He further declared the judgement as “no victor, no vanquished” and called for an immediate reconciliation among the two groups that exist within the party in Yobe North.
