Bashir Sheriff Machina, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe North Senatorial District has refused to step down for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, 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 has 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“I am still the candidate; I have not withdrawn and I will not withdraw for anybody.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 our correspondent 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 on their own part, have said that they want him to continue representing the senatorial district in the Red Chamber.
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