Court Disqualifies Senate President, Declares Bashir Machina As Yobe North Senatorial Candidate

The Damaturu Division of the Federal High Court has affirmed Bashir Sheriff Machina as the All Progressives Congress’ senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Justice Fadima Aminu, in his ruling on Wednesday, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to forthwith publish Mr Machina’s name as the ruling party’s candidate in the district’s 2023 National Assembly election.

The judge noted that Mr Machina was duly elected senatorial candidate for APC, consequently upholding the May 28 primary election of the party that was also certified by INEC.

The Nigerian Voice understands that Bashir Machina’s mandate was threatened by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

Ahmed Lawan had participated in the just concluded presidential primaries of the ruling party. He, however, lost the party's ticket to Bola Tinubu who eventually emerged as the party's presidential candidate.

Following his lost of the presidential ticket, the Senate President was seeking to overturn the primary election which produced Mr Bashir Sheriff Machina as senatorial candidate for the Yobe State constituency.