By EDITH NWAPI

The Court of Appeal, on Monday affirmed Bashir Machina as the authentic All Progressives Congress(APC) senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

The appellate court, in a judgment that was delivered by a three-member panel led by President of the Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, dismissed Senate President Ahmed Lawan’s appeal as lacking in merit.

Lawan, filed an appeal challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu.

Aminu had on Sept. 28, 2022, declared Machina as winner of the primary election organised by the APC in May 2022, while Lawan opted to contest for the presidential primary election organised by the APC in June.

Aminu nullified the parallel primary election that produced Lawan on June 9, 2022.

Consequently, the trial judge ordered the APC to forward the name of Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary held in May.

Lawan, had picked the presidential form of the APC and participated in the primary election that was won by Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Meanwhile, Machina contested and won his bid to takeover as candidate of the party for the senatorial contest.

However, Machina was asked to step down for Lawan but he insisted that he would not withdraw for the Senate President.

In the face of the controversy, the APC submitted the Senate President’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Aggrieved by the development, Machina headed to court to seek redress.

Machina in his suit prayed the court to declare him as the valid elected senatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 election. (NAN)