The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has declared that it is maintaining it’s stance on the report of its monitoring team from the All Progressives Congress, APC Yobe North Senatorial Primary Election.
Recall Bashir Machina had emerged as winner of the primary election held on May 28, 2022, after he scored 289 votes out of 300 delegates.
However, the APC submitted the name of Senate President Ahmad Lawan as its candidate for the district, even after records revealed that Lawan did not participate in the excercise.
Also, the electoral management body in a statement on Thursday, 8th of September 2022 insisted it does not recognize Lawan as a Senatorial candidate.
Meanwhile, Lawan is among the 23 presidential hopefulls that participated in June 6-8 APC special Presidential Convention that held Abuja, long after his party has ended Senatorial Primaries across the country.
INEC in a statement on Thursday signed and made available to CAPITAL POST by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said “It’s attention has been drawn to a counter affidavit purportedly filed in the Federal High Court, Damaturu Judicial Division relating to the Yobe North Senatorial District primary election.
“Notwithstanding the matter in Court and without prejudice to the consideration or likely outcome of the case in court, the Commission reiterates its earlier position that it stands by the report of its monitoring team and it was on the basis of that report that the Commission did not publish the name and personal particulars of any candidate for the Yobe North Senatorial District.
“Consequently, the Commission will review its quality assurance protocols, including the preview by appropriate ranking Officials of all processes filed on its behalf to ascertain their correctness in all material particulars with all reports and all information at its disposal before their presentation so that a situation like this is not repeated.
“The Commission has also instructed the external counsel briefed to handle this matter to reflect the correct position, which aligns with the report submitted by our Monitoring Team.”
