Yobe North: "Supreme Court judgement shows democracy is at work”

Senate President Ahmad Lawan has commended the Supreme Court for declaring him the authentic candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North senatorial district in the forthcoming general election.

The apex court declared Lawan the winner in a majority decision on Monday, after allowing the appeal filed by the APC against Bashir Machina’s candidature.

Although Machina won the May 28, 2022, senatorial primary conducted by the APC unopposed, the party sent Senator Lawan’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after he won another primary conducted by the party.

A high court in Damaturu and the Court of Appeal affirmed Machina the authentic winner of the primary and ordered the APC to forward his name to INEC.

But the ruling party lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court.

Delivering judgment on Monday, three out of a five-member panel agreed with the position of the APC that the suit at the trial court ought not to have commenced via an originating summons since it contained allegations of fraud.

But in a dissenting opinion, Justices Adamu Jauro and Emmanuel Agim agreed with the Court of Appeal’s decision which declared Machina winner.

“I affirm the brilliant judgment of the appellate court as to the appropriateness of the use of originating summons,” Agim said.

Reacting to the Supreme Court judgement in his Abuja residence, Lawan said that it showed “democracy is at work”.

“What happened was democracy at work and the courts gave their various judgments and of course, the Supreme Court gave the final judgement.

“I want to at this point commend the Supreme Court and of course the judiciary generally for making this kind of judgement to strengthen our democracy because it is not only for politicians to work and strengthen democracy. All institutions have their roles to play. So I commend them,” he said.

The candidate also thanked his party for fighting to reclaim his mandate.

“Let me take this opportunity to thank the All Progressives Congress our party for taking this matter to the Supreme Court. Actually, as an individual, I didn’t go to the Supreme Court to seek redress but my party did, and my people of Yobe North and Yobe State generally and many political associates and well-wishers across the country and beyond pushed for an appeal at the Supreme Court on this matter.

“So today it is a victory for all of us involved. I am the symbol but the victory is for our party the APC and for democracy,” Lawan said.

Lawan expressed his support for the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“We will be looking at the 25th of February when the Presidential and the National Assembly elections will take place. By the Grace of God Nigerians will Vote for APC once again.

“On the 25th the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu (Jagaban), will be voted in as President of Nigeria by the grace of God alongside distinguished senator Kashim Shetima who is the vice presidential candidate.

“When it comes to the senatorial and House of Representatives, you know what it will be. It will be a landslide majority for the APC and the same thing for the House of Reps.

“We will continue to give Nigeria leadership to continue with those programs and projects that we have been doing very well and rethink those that we think we have not done very well. This I believe will make Nigeria better,” he said.