The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment on an appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, Yobe State, North-East Nigeria, which declared Bashir Sheriff Machina as the Party’s senatorial candidate for Yobe North in the 2023 elections.
Justice Monica Dongbang Mensen who presided over the three-man panel of justices at the appeal hearing said that date for the judgment on the appeal will be communicated to parties as soon as it is ready.
Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, had contested the election with Sheriff Machina who won during the party’s primaries.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, the Senate President approached the Federal High Court, Damaturu, to challenge Machina’s victory.
The Federal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State Capital then declared Bashir Sheriff Machina as the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) certified senatorial candidate for Yobe North in the 2023 National Assembly elections.
The court had also directed the INEC to accept and publish Machina’s name accordingly.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), having been dissatisfied with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Damaturu, approached the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.
The Party through its counsel, Shu’aib Enejo Aruwa, urged the court to allow the appeal by setting aside the decision of the Federal High Court, Damaturu.
Counsel to the first respondent who is the winner of the Senatorial Primaries, informed the court that the brief of the Appellant failed to comply with the rules of the court and should be discountenanced.
He urged the court to dismiss the appeal as being unmeritorious.
Meanwhile, counsel to the second respondent conceded with the appeal filed.
Recall that the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who aspired for the APC presidential primary and lost, has been parading himself as the senatorial candidate of the Zone, which led to the Court case.
