Yobe North: Lawan Accepts Defeat, Says he Won’t Appeal Court Verdict 

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has accepted the judgment of Yobe State High Court which disqualified him from participating in next year’s National Assembly elections on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Lawan, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, said he would not appeal the judgment delivered on Wednesday in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, which denied him the opportunity to represent the Yobe North Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly. 

The Senate President said he “has accepted the judgment of the court which disqualified his candidature and participation in the elections”.

Part of the statement read: “Yesterday, Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, the Federal High Court in Damaturu delivered judgment on the rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly elections.

“The said judgment 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 judgment. I accept the judgment.

“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.”

A Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State, had on September 28, affirmed Mr. Bashir Machina, as the authentic candidate of the APC for the Yobe North Senatorial District. 

Justice Fadima Aminu delivered the verdict in Damaturu, the state capital, Wednesday. 

She had earlier reserved judgment on the tussle regarding the senatorial ticket after a heated argument between the counsel to the plaintiff and the defendants on September 25.

Machina emerged the winner of the primary election supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials. The Senate president did not participate in the primary election.

The suit was filed by the winner of the APC’ senatorial primary election for Yobe North, Machina.

He filed the suit against the APC, INEC and Lawan regarding the primary election held on May 28, 2022.

Machina asked the court to declare him as the authentic senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election.