Yobe North Senate: I won’t appeal against judgement, Lawan accepts defeat

Nigeria’s senate president, Ahmad Lawan, has reacted to a court ruling disqualifying him as the “rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly elections”.

NewsWireNGR reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu on Wednesday ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Bashir Machina as the candidate for Yobe North senatorial candidate.

Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary, which was held on the 28/05/2022.

The judge described the primary election where Senate President Ahmad Lawan emerged as the candidate as “phantom”.

Reacting to the development, Lawan who has been in the senate since 2007 said; “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.”