How Bashir Sheriff Machina Defied the Odds Against His Yobe North Senatorial Seat Candidacy

 I want to start by congratulating Hon. Bashir Sheriff Machina on winning his legal tussle in court on September 28, 2022. I sincerely believe this is a crucial win for him and us (his supporters and well-wishers). We are, indeed, very grateful to God for this triumph. Admittedly, we have fervently prayed for this day, and now we can bask in the sheer happiness that it brings. This is a victory for democracy as well as any person yearning for change in Yobe North and beyond. For Nigeria's justice system, this is a positive outlook as we saunter into the general election of 2023. This gives the feeling that the rule of law will be protected. Certainly, this would boost Nigerians' trust in the legal system. 

 

Moving on, as you can recall, Nigeria had primary elections a few months ago in preparation for the main election in 2023. Before the primaries, it was permitted for each prospective candidate to purchase his nomination and expression of interest forms. We've seen how some politicians have lofty ambitions and compete for higher offices. While some fought to keep their existing offices. As a result, Ahmed Lawan decided to run for president after being nudged to dream bigger by his close associates and supporters. However, he lost out to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who would represent the All Progressive Congress (APC)  as a presidential candidate in 2023. On the other side, Bashir Sheriff Machina responded to the same appeal and ran in the primary election for the Yobe North Senatorial Seat, ultimately winning by a large margin.

Surprisingly, after losing his presidential bid, Lawan inadvertently gawked at the Yobe North seat that he had opted to not run for. At first, we all thought the incumbent Senate President was joking. Because we all know that he participated in the presidential primary election. Regardless, as it turned out, the rumors were real — he wants to return to Yobe North as its senatorial candidate in 2023. This was the onset of the political hullabaloo in Yobe North. This was the beginning of all the threats made by the Lawan camp. Such as the famous BBC interview rendered by the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, in which he threatened Machina to be careful or else the consequences are severe if he refused to step down for Lawan. Nonetheless, Machina remained unshaken and steadfast in his pursuit, much to the chagrin of Lawan and his camp.

After exerting too much pressure on Machina to withdraw from the race proved futile, Lawan launched a full-fledged war and propaganda against him. This, too, did not frighten Machina into complying with their nefarious tactics. Funnily enough, the Lawan camp went back to the drawing board, re-thought their strategy, and came up with the idea of writing absurd articles and letters in which they stated that Bashir Machina had stepped down for Lawan, and in others, they stated that Machina had withdrawn his membership from the APC. Interestingly,  Machina refuted all of these tales in many BBC Radio interviews.

Furthermore, Lawan and his associates at the APC National Headquarters unlawfully instructed the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to not include Machina's name in the list of the senatorial candidates who would run in the 2023 election. Much to their dismay, this spurred Hon. Machina to launch a lawsuit against the decision made by the party's national headquarters. Although the Commission stated, through Festus Okoye Esq., National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, that they have no influence over the placement of candidate names on their website, political parties have the fundamental freedom to bring the names they desire. Probably, even if you did not participate in the primary election (pun intended here). Doing so is a flagrant violation of sections 31, 34, 84 (1), and (2) of the 2022 Electoral Acts as amended.

After more than two months of hearings in the Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe state capital, between the plaintiff and defendant. On Wednesday, September 28, Justice Fatima ruled that the defendant's claims were groundless. As a result, she ruled in favor of Bashir Machina. In other words, she reaffirmed to Machina that he is the legitimate senatorial candidate for Yobe North in 2023. Because Ahmed Lawan was not on the ballot during the district primary election. Thus, his claims are as plausible as writing on the surface of the ocean. Also, the Chief Judge has directed the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to promptly place Machina's name on the list of candidates participating in the 2023 general election.  This was how Machina fought so hard for what lawfully belonged to him.

Unsurprisingly, after watching what happened in court on Wednesday 28th, 2022, Lawan issued a statement Thursday afternoon stating that after confidential consultation with his close cronies and political associates, he accepted the court's judgment. In the statement, he bid farewell to the people of Yobe North and thanked them for their loyal support over his two decades in the National Assembly. Frankly, we thought Lawan would file an appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeals. Because one of his close associates said Wednesday on Voice of America Hausa (VOA) that they would appeal the court verdict. Lawan, on the other hand, chose to embrace his ordeals in light of what was at stake. Something he should have done before things got to this point of no return.

Most crucially, had Bashir Machina succumbed to Lawan's propaganda apparatus, the narrative might have turned out quite differently. Instead, he stood firm and battled for what was rightfully his. This reminds me of Hillary Clinton's concession speech after she lost to Donald Trump in 2016. "Fighting for what is yours is worth it," she said. Without a doubt, Machina has displayed what we should all strive to mimic should we find ourselves in a situation similar to his.

For this reason, I want to draw the general public's attention to the fact that now is the right moment to set aside our differences and embrace our better heritage. It is now time to band together and revitalize Yobe North so that it can reach its full potential. I also want Ahmed Lawan's team to know that one of the prognoses that will undoubtedly come true is that the sun will rise again. So Machina's door is always open to working with you in the actualization of the new dawn of prosperity in Yobe North. Because our combined efforts are all that is required to recreate the Yobe North of our dreams.

Finally, I do not doubt that Hon. Bashir Machina will provide and resolve Yobe North's critical challenges; He will deliver a better representation that benefits everyone from the ground up. At the same time, I want to encourage you to reject any political ideology that promotes division and discord over unity and hope. The time has come to be fully Sheriffied! The time is now to band behind the new Sheriff in town. Let's do this for posterity to be proud of us.