Yobe APC senatorial primary winner adamant, won’t step down for Senate President, Lawan, who lost presidential primary
Bashir Sheriff Machina, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District has kept his resolve not to step down for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Machina insisted that he won the ticket fairly and would keep it regardless of pressure.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Machina said he contested the party’s senatorial ticket and the delegates overwhelmingly voted for him.
The publication reported that since Lawan lost out in the ruling party’s presidential primary, he’s been making moves to reclaim the Yobe North ticket.
Machina has however vowed never to relinquish the ticket to Lawan who has been representing the senatorial district since 2007 when he crossed over from the House of Representatives to the Red Chamber.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned, I contested for the Yobe North senatorial ticket and I won the election. I was confirmed elected because there were other contestants but I was the one that was qualified. I happened to be unopposed.
“I am still the candidate; I have not withdrawn and I will not withdraw for anybody. I am being approached by some persons but I will not withdraw, Insha Allah.”
A party member loyal to Machina, Hussaini Mohammed Isa also told Daily Trust that a lot of pressure was mounted on the candidate to hand over the APC senatorial ticket to Lawan. The move was however faulted by some leaders who stated that Machina laboured for the ticket.
Lawan’s supporters argue that the senate president ought to continue to represent the senatorial district in the Red Chamber considering that he was unsuccessful in his bid to become the presidential flag bearer of the party.
