14th October, 2022
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has finally bowed to the court order that declares Bashir Sheriff Machina as the party’s candidate for Yobe North senatorial district candidate.
APC had supported Senate President Ahmad Lawan who was contending the ticket with Machina, though he did not participate in the primary for the senatorial seat.
However, Machina had gone to court to assert his right as the authentic candidate of the party.
As a result of the suit, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had refused to publish the names of any of the two contenders among candidates contending for the senatorial seat.
However, Federal High Court, Damaturu presided over by Justice Fadima Aminu had recently directed INEC to accept and publish Machina’s name as the validly elected APC candidate for the zone, thus upholding the May 28 poll of the party that produced him.
Following the court ruling, Senate Lawan also said he will no longer fight for the ticket.
But the Yobe chapter of APC had said it will appeal the judgment.
However, APC, in a letter by its National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, and the Secretary, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, had directed INEC to accept Machina as its candidate for Yobe North in compliance with the court order.
“We write to notify the Commission of the attached Judgment dated 28th September 2022 and Order dated 5th October 2022 from the Federal High Court, Damaturu Judicial Division, directing the Commission to accept and recognize BASHIR SHERIFF as the Party’s candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District, Yobe State and to publish same accordingly,” the letter, referenced APC/NHDQ/INEC/19/022/128, and dated October 10th, 2022, read.
“Above is for your information and necessary action, please.”