Yobe North: FHC Reserves Ruling On Ahmed Lawan Vs Machina Case

A Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu on Monday reserved ruling in the case between Ahmed Lawan, senate president and Machina on who is the authentic candidate for the Yobe North Senatorial Disctrict come 2023 election.

 

Newsonline reports that the presiding judge, Fadimatu Aminu told councils that they will be communicated on the date for the ruling.

 

The case entertained by the court was filed by Bashir Shariff Machina on Yobe North APC senatorial primary election, against President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and two others.

 

The court arrived at the decision after listening to the arguments of both the defendants’ counsels and the plaintiff’s counsel.

 

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In an interview with newsmen shortly after the adjournment of the case, Counsel to Ahmad Lawan, Ahmed Raji, (SAN) prayed the court to strike out the case because it was filed out of time.

 

“Our objection is to the fact that the matter is statute-barred because it was not filled within 14 days stipulated by the constitution”, he said.

 

Similarly, explaining his position, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN), Counsel to Bashir Machina said his client is just requesting the court to compel INEC and APC to comply with the provision of the Electoral Act by declaring his client as the authentic winner of the May 28, 2022 election.

 

“If I don’t have a good case, I don’t come to court and I believe this is another good case that I have and I am confident that the judgement will be in my favour”, he said.

 

Recall that Senator Ahmed Lawan was one of the presidential aspirants of the June All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary which he lost to Bola Tinubu.

 

While Machina was declared the winner of the Yobe North senatorial district APC primary election.

 

Since Ahmed Lawan lost to Tinubu, the national leadership of APC has been persuading Machina to give up his ticket to the senate president who has been in the Senate for 20 years.