The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed Bashir Sheriff Machina as the duly elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe North Senatorial District.
It would be recalled that Machina raised an alarm after the APC substituted his name on the list of candidates sent to the INEC for that of the Senator President, Ahmad Lawan.
Premium Politics reported that Lawan had contested in the APC primary but lost as the party’s national leader and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emerged the presidential candidate.
Having missed out on the presidential ticket, Lawan is said to be making attempts to return to the senate which would require Machina to step down, having emerged unopposed during the senatorial primary.
Machina was reportedly under pressure to hand over the ticket to Lawan but he stated that “As far as I’m concerned, I contested for the Yobe North senatorial ticket and I won the election.
“I was confirmed elected because there were other contestants but I was the one that was qualified. I happened to be unopposed.
“I am still the candidate; I have not withdrawn and I will not withdraw for anybody. I am being approached by some persons but I will not withdraw, Insha Allah.”
However, the position of the Electoral Umpire was contained in a legally admissible Certified True Copy of INEC report for the primary election dated yesterday, 23rd June 2022, according to Pulse.
This has laid to rest the issue of any purported primaries said to have produced Lawan as a senatorial candidate.
The law provides that only election (primary, secondary) duly monitored by INEC is recognised in the eyes of law.
