Machina threatens court action as APC submits Lawan’s name for Yobe North senatorial contest

All Progressives Congress (APC) has allegedly submitted the name of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan as Yobe North senatorial candidate for the 2023 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It would be recalled that Lawan did not participate in the senatorial election as he contested the presidential primaries of the APC.

In his absence, Bashir Sherrif Machina won the Yobe North senatorial contest.

Machina had refused to step down for Lawan when he was persuaded to do so.

But his name was missing from the list the party sent to INEC. APC sent the names of Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam as the senatorial candidate for Yobe East, Lawan as the candidate for Yobe North, and Senator Mohammed Bomai for Yobe South.

Machina, while reacting to the list alleged that his name must have been illegally removed.

Speaking to journalists at a press briefing on Friday night, Machina said he would seek redress from the National Working Committee of the party.

“As you all know, I am the APC senatorial candidate of Yobe Senatorial District. I scored 289 votes from an election which was held free, fair, peaceful and harmoniously

“Going by the guidelines of the senatorial or National Assembly, primary elections for 2023 general election were held according to the Electoral Act. Ballots were cast transparently and openly. On the day of the primary elections as scheduled, I emerged the winner. We submitted the results to the national headquarters of my party, the APC

“Ironically, this evening, I heard from credible sources that my name was misrepresented. My name was removed from the list sent by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission. I don’t know whether erroneously or deliberately so.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I remain the senatorial candidate of Yobe North senatorial district duly elected on the platform of the APC.

“I did not withdraw for anybody and will not withdraw because that is as a matter of right. Removing my name; I consider is very undemocratic, illegal and of course inhuman,” he said.

Machina said he would check with the party and if true, he would seek redress in the court.

He added: “I will check; I will take measures first by reminding and appealing to my party. If this action is truly done erroneously, it should be corrected. And if it is deliberate, we are actually seeking for redress from the National Working Committee of our party under the leadership of Senator Abdullahi Adamu.”