Senate President Ahmad Lawan has lauded the judiciary after a Supreme Court verdict affirming him as the Yobe Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“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,” Mr Lawan told journalists shortly after the verdict.

The supreme court on Monday affirmed Mr Lawan, APC senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Mr described the judgement as a victory for APC and thanked God for the victory.

“The judgement on Yobe North particularly is a victory for APC in Yobe and generally APC across the country.

“What happened was democracy at work, and the courts gave their various judgements, and of course, the supreme court gave the final judgement.

“This is because it is not only for politicians to work and strengthen democracy it is all of us, and all the institutions have their roles to play. So I commend them.”

He further thanked the APC and his colleagues in the Senate for their support, love and for partnership.

“By the Grace of God, Nigerians will vote APC once again. On the 25th, the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, will be voted in as president of Nigeria by the grace of God alongside Sen. Kashim Shettima who is the Vice Presidential candidate.”

In a majority judgement delivered by Justice Centus Nweze, the apex court allowed the appeal filed by the APC against Bashir Machina’s candidature.

Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, who presided over a three-member panel of the appellate court, gave the affirmation in an appeal by the APC challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court, Damaturu.

Justice Aminu of the Federal High Court had, on September  28, 2022, declared Mr Machina as the winner of the primary election organised by the party on May 28, 2022.

However, having lost the APC presidential primary to Bola Tinubu, the party opted for Mr Lawan to replace Mr Machina.

But Mr Machina insisted that he would not withdraw for the senate president.

In the face of the controversy, the APC submitted Mr Lawan’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North.

Not satisfied with the decision of his party, Mr Machina headed to court to seek redress.

Justice Aminu had nullified the parallel primary election that produced Mr Lawan on June 9, 2022, insisting that the National Working Committee of the APC conducted a valid primary election on May 28, which was won by Bashir Machina.

Consequently, the trial judge ordered the APC to forward the name of Mr Machina to INEC as the authentic winner of the primary election for Yobe North.

(NAN)