By Abbanobi -Eku Onyeka
The media office of Senator Ahmad Lawan has dismissed as “unfounded” claims by Hon. Hassan Hussaini Kafayos over his disqualification from the APC primary election for Yobe North Senatorial District.
In a press statement signed by Ezrel Tabiowo, Media Adviser to Senator Lawan, on Monday, the camp said it was necessary to correct misrepresentations after Hon. Kafayos addressed a press conference on the issue.
The statement noted that Hon. Kafayos had himself admitted that the matter is now before a court of competent jurisdiction and is therefore sub judice.
“It is puzzling that he would proceed to hold a press conference dissecting issues pending before the court,” the statement said. “When a matter is before a court, parties are expected to exercise restraint and allow the judicial process to run its course.”
The Lawan camp also faulted Hon. Kafayos for suggesting that his disqualification was the personal doing of Senator Lawan, describing it as a “fundamental misunderstanding” of how political parties operate.
It stated that decisions on party primaries rest entirely with the political party, in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, and not with individual members.
“Senator Lawan is not the party, and the party’s administrative decisions cannot be ascribed to him,” the statement read. It questioned the motive for joining the Senator in a suit concerning an APC decision.
On claims of popularity, the statement cited electoral records from the 2023 general elections, where Senator Lawan polled 91,318 votes to defeat his PDP challenger who scored 22,849 votes, a margin of over 68,000 votes
