An Appeal Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by the president of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan against the judgement of the Federal High Court Damaturu.
ASHENEWS reports that the appeal is in respect of the candidacy of Yobe North Senatorial District contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC), which Bashir Machina won.
Machina had won the primary election of the APC in May 2022 when Lawan, who presently represents the district, opted to contest the presidential primary election APC in June.
Lawan lost to Bola Tinubu and Machina was asked to step down for Lawan but refused, insisting that he contested and won.
As perceived consequence for his refusal to abide by his party’s instruction, the APC submitted Lawan’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its preferred candidate for the senatorial seat.
Disgruntled by the development, Machina approached the Federal High court Damaturu which declared him as the validly elected senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election.
Dissatisfied, Lawan challenged the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu, which declared Machina as the authentic APC senatorial candidate of Yobe North on September 28, 2022.
After taking arguments of both parties, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, who led a 3-man panel on November 11, 2022 reserved judgment.
