Yobe North: Ex-Senate president denies role in disqualification of aspirant

Former president of the ninth Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan has described as unfounded claims by a former aspirant, Hon. Hassan Hussaini Kafayos, who accused him of having hands in his disqualification from the primary election.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Ezrel Tabiowo on Monday, Lawan said grievances arising from election contest should be directed to the appropriate quarters, rather than his person as he has no power to disqualify anyone in a manner that he was portrayed at a press conference by Hon. Kafayos.

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The statement read in full:

“Our attention has been drawn to a press conference addressed by Hon. Hassan Hussaini Kafayos regarding his disqualification from the All Progressives Congress primary election for the Yobe North Senatorial District. While we acknowledge his right to air his grievances, it is necessary to clarify certain misrepresentations and set the facts in their proper perspective, lest the public be misled.

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“A preliminary concern, which must be addressed with the utmost seriousness, is the propriety of his public commentary on a matter that he himself has placed before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“By his own admission at the said press conference, Hon. Kafayos has submitted his grievances for judicial determination, even noting that the matter is now sub judice.

“It is therefore puzzling that he would proceed, in the same breath, to hold a press conference dissecting the very issues pending before the court. This approach is inconsistent with established legal convention. When a matter is before a court, all parties are expected to exercise restraint and allow the judicial process to run its full course without the distraction of public litigation.

“Having chosen the path of legal redress, the honourable course would have been to keep his peace and trust the court to do justice.

“Furthermore, Hon. Kafayos appears to labour under the mistaken impression that his disqualification from the primaries was the personal doing of Senator Ahmad Lawan. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of how political parties operate.

“The decision regarding who participates in and emerges from party primaries rests entirely with the political party in question.

“This is a settled principle in Nigeria’s electoral framework, well grounded in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, both of which empower political parties to determine their candidates in accordance with their internal rules and guidelines. It is therefore difficult to comprehend the rationale behind joining Senator Lawan as a party to a suit concerning a decision taken by the All Progressives Congress.

“Senator Lawan is not the party, and the party’s administrative decisions cannot be ascribed to him. That Hon. Kafayos has directed his grievance at the Senator, rather than confining it to the party, raises legitimate questions about the actual motive behind this legal adventure.

“On the question of popularity and public support, Hon. Kafayos has made claims that simply do not align with available electoral records. The people of Yobe North have, on multiple occasions, expressed their clear preference at the ballot box. During the 2023 general election, Senator Ahmad Lawan polled an overwhelming 91,318 votes, defeating his closest challenger of People’s Democratic Party, who secured 22,849 votes.

“That a margin of well over 68,000 votes is now being dismissed, and the constituency portrayed as one yearning for change, is difficult to reconcile with reality. The numbers speak for themselves and remain the most objective measure of a representative’s standing with his people. The narrative of overwhelming support that Hon. Kafayos projects exists largely in the realm of political rhetoric and does not find expression in any verifiable electoral outcome.

“The sustained support Senator Lawan enjoys in Yobe North is not without cause. It is built on a solid record of performance.

“Over the years, he has facilitated significant infrastructure development across the district, secured employment opportunities and empowerment programmes for numerous constituents, and consistently attracted federal presence to the zone. His tenure as President of the Ninth Senate from 2019 to 2023 is a matter of public record, marked by legislative stability, productive executive-legislature relations, and the passage of critical bills that have advanced national development.

“These accomplishments stand in stark contrast to the negative portrayal that Hon. Kafayos seeks to advance.

“It is also necessary, though rather unfortunate, to address a deeply personal dimension to this matter. While Hon. Kafayos now presents himself as an aggrieved contender fighting for justice, he appears to have conveniently forgotten the personal goodwill extended to him by the very man he now publicly disparages.

“It is a matter of record that Senator Ahmad Lawan personally facilitated and secured sponsorship for Hon. Kafayos’ wife to pursue both her Masters and PhD programmes in the United States of America, a life-changing intervention that has undoubtedly elevated the standing of his family. “Additionally, in 2022, a nominee put forward by Hon. Kafayos was secured an employment placement and currently serves within the Public Accounts Committee of the Senate. These are not the actions of a man who regards Hon. Kafayos as an adversary. These are the gestures of a leader who extended a helping hand to an associate.

“That these acts of benevolence are now repaid with a public campaign of disparagement is deeply disappointing and raises serious concerns about the character of the man behind the claims.

“What has become increasingly evident is a sustained effort by Hon. Kafayos to bring the name and reputation of Senator Ahmad Lawan into disrepute through a series of unsubstantiated allegations. While political contestation is a normal feature of democracy, it must be conducted with a measure of decorum, truthfulness, and respect for facts.

“Resorting to inflammatory rhetoric and baseless claims does not advance the cause of democracy; it only erodes public trust in the political process.

“As this matter is now before the courts, it is best that all parties allow the judicial process to take its course. Senator Ahmad Lawan remains focused on the task for which the people of Yobe North have repeatedly entrusted him with their mandate, and he will not be distracted by political sideshows. His commitment to quality representation and the development of Yobe North remains his main focus”, the statement concluded.

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