*Says he won Yobe North senatorial primary with 281 votes
This is not the best of times for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as the placeholder and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Yobe North Senatorial District, Bashir Sheriff Machina, has insisted that he would not step down for Lawan.
Theideal recalls that Lawan contested the ruling party’s presidential primary at the Eagle Square in Abuja but lost the ticket to the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Machina also claimed that he has been approached by some people, asking him to relinquish the ticket.
He ,however, said that he would not step down for Lawan on the grounds that he won the senatorial primary for Yobe North.
He said, “As far as I am 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“I am still the candidate; I have not withdrawn and I will not withdraw for anybody.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.”
On the request for him to step down, since he is a placeholder for Lawan, who intends to return to the Senate in 2023, Machina said: “ I will not step down for the Senate President. I am still with my mandate. I scored 281 out of 300 votes cast at the primary. I won’t step down people’s mandate given to me..”
It is instructive to note that Lawan has been representing Yobe North Senatorial District at the National Assembly since 2007.
Lawan was a member of the House of Representatives before moving to the Senate and eventually became the Senate President, a position he still holds till date.
