A report by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, confirmed Bashir Machina as the substantive candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Yobe north senatorial district.
Senate President, Ahmed Lawan contested presidential ticket of the party in May while Machina, presumably as a ‘placeholder’, contested the party’s ticket for the senatorial ticket and won unopposed in May.
When Lawan lost to Bola Tinubu however, Machina was being pressed to step down for the Senate, who currently represents the district.
Machina vowed he would not withdraw because the Senate had been his life time ambition.
Daring all consequences, the National headquarters of the party submitted Lawan’s name to INEC as its candidate for the senatorial district, claiming that the senate president contested a senatorial primary organised by the party.
However, the electoral umpire in a signed and stamped report dated June 23, 2022 released on Friday, Machina as the legitimate winner of the APC senatorial primary for Yobe North District with 289 votes unopposed.
