The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress, (APC), against Yobe North senatorial candidate, Bashir Sheriff Machina and two others on Friday.
APC had approached the appellate court asking it to set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Damaturu which declared Machina as the rightful senatorial candidate of the Party for Yobe North.
Counsel to Bashir Machina, Ibrahim K. Bawa (SAN) had in his argument asked the appellate court to dismiss the appeal for lack of merit and uphold the judgement of the lower court which he argued was right.
After listening to the counsel’s debate, the 3-man panel said it would communicate the date for the judgement to all parties involved.
It was gathered that the ruling All Progressives Congress has changed its earlier position not to appeal the judgement of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, which declared Bashir Machina as the rightful senatorial candidate of the party in Yobe North.
Recall that, on September 29, President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan said he has accepted the judgement of the court which disqualified his candidature and participation in the elections.
“After due consultations with my political associates, supporters and well-wishers, I have decided not to appeal against the judgement. I accept the judgement”, Lawan said.
APC had in a letter by its national legal adviser, Ahmad Usman, which was sent to the chairman of the Yobe State chapter of the party, Mohammed Gadaka, aligned itself with the position of Lawan not to appeal the judgement of the trial court.
However, in a dramatic twist of events, the party has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Gombe, seeking a declaration of Ahmad Lawan as the rightful senatorial candidate of the party.
