President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, says he won’t appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, which disqualified him from the Yobe North Senate Seat of the National Assembly in 2023 poll.
Lawan said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that he has accepted the judgement in good faith.
“Yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 28, the Federal High Court in Damaturu delivered judgement on the rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly election.
“The said judgement 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 judgement. I accept the judgement.
“At this juncture, I deem it appropriate to thank His Excellency, Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam for the leadership role in the APC political family in Yobe. I also thank His Excellency, Gov. Mai Mala Buni for the support and brotherhood,” he said.
Lawan added: “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.
“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.”
Mr Lawan, who was elected into the National Assembly since 1999, has been struggling to retrieve the Yobe North senate ticket after he lost out at the APC presidential primaries.
Despite being anointed as the ruling party’s preferred candidate by the APC national chairman Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Lawan came a distant fourth with 152 votes against Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s 1,271 winning votes. Mr Rotimi Amaechi came second with 316 votes, while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.
However, after losing the bid to secure the party’s presidential ticket, Lawan aided by the party’s leadership, moved to return to the senate.
Machina who was the sole candidate in the senatorial primary secured 289 votes and was declared the party’s candidate.
But Machina, who confirmed that he has been approached by some persons to step down for Lawan, however vowed not to withdraw from the race.
APC chairman Adamu had warned that Machina risked severe sanctions if he refused to relinquish his ticket to Lawan.
However, In a statement on Sunday, Machina has dismissed claims that he had stepped down for Lawan.
He said it was also not true that he had defected from the APC.
The statement said, “It has been brought to my notice that some unscrupulous elements forged a letter of my withdrawal from the race out of mischief and blackmail.
“I state unequivocally that the letter was forged. I did not at any time withdraw or resign from the APC.
“I was shocked when I discovered that some persons concocted plans to mislead the public particularly my supporters into believing that I have withdrawn.”
Machina called on the national secretariat of the APC to issue a statement on the forged letter which carried its official stamp.
The APC chieftain said he had instructed his lawyers to institute legal action against those behind the fake letter of his withdrawal from the race.