Senate President Lawan concedes loss, says won’t appeal court order

Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President has said that he has accepted the judgment of the court which disqualified his candidature and participation in the coming election. 

Conceding defeat, Lawan in a statement on Thursday said he will not be appealing against the ruling of the court.

Recall that Lawan had contested in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries which he lost to Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

After losing out, he had picked a form to contest for the senatorial ticket of the party for the Yobe North of which Bashir Machina had already emerged as a candidate after participating in the primaries which were supervised by INEC officials on May 28. 

On June 9, APC held another primary election in which Lawan emerged as the winner. Subsequently, the party forwarded the name of Lawan to INEC as the candidate of the party. 

 INEC, in turn, refused to recognize Lawan as the candidate saying the APC currently has no senatorial candidate for Yobe north.  

Machina then approached the court praying the court to declare that he is the authentic senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election. 

In her judgment, the presiding judge yesterday, Wednesday ordered APC and INEC to recognize and forward Machina’s name as the senatorial candidate.  

Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu on Wednesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize and publish Bashir Machina as Yobe North senatorial candidate of the APC.  

Read also: Court ditches Sen President Ahmad Lawan, declares Machina APC Yobe North senate candidate

In his latest reaction, Senate President Lawan said that he has accepted the court’s judgment and will not appeal after due consultations with his political associates, supporters, and well-wishers. 

His statement reads;

“Yesterday, Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the Federal High Court in Damaturu delivered judgment on the rightful candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District for the 2023 National Assembly elections. 

“The said judgment 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 judgment. I accept the judgment.” 

“I deem it appropriate to thank His Excellency, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam for the leadership role in the APC political family in Yobe State. I also thank His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni for the support and brotherhood. 

“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 State. 

“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 lifelong journey. It has been a wonderful relationship and it can only get stronger. I am indebted to you all. Alhamdulillah,” The senate president said.