The Yobe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Friday says it will appeal Wednesday’s court ruling recognising Bashir Machina as the APC candidate for its North Senatorial District ahead of the 2023 National Assembly election.
It was reported a Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu directed the leadership of the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Machina as the Yobe North senatorial candidate of the party.
The presiding judge, Justice Fadima Aminu, nullified the parallel primary election that produced the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on June 9, 2022.
Aminu also ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary held in May.
But in a statement issued on Friday, APC State Chairman, Mohammed Gadaka, threw his weight behind Lawan, saying he remains their bonafide candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District election as recognised by the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee of the APC.
The statement read, “We are aware of the Wednesday, September 28, 2022, ruling of the Federal High Court in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, with respect to the forthcoming Yobe North Senatorial District election.
“However, we respectfully reject the decision of the President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Ahmad Lawan, accepting the judgment of the court which disqualified his candidature and participation in the election.
“In exercise of our legal rights, the Yobe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has decided to appeal the Federal High Court ruling in the interest of Yobe State, Nigeria and good governance.
“We have a duty to protect and sustain Senator Ahmed Lawan’s 23 years exemplary sojourn as a lawmaker and his impeccable record of leadership and patriotism – and commitment to making Nigeria work.”