Machina reiterates he won’t step down, saying letter of withdrawal forged
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bashir Machina, who won the Yobe North senatorial ticked of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the letter circulating on social media claiming he has withdrawn his candidacy is forged and should be disregarded.
He has asked APC National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu to explain how his office received the letter and stamped it officially received, in the false belief he has stepped down for Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
“I write to notify you of my resignation from the All Progressive Congress and my withdrawal from the Yobe North senatorial race,” the purported letter read in part.
“The decision was taken due to personal reasons relating to misunderstandings between I and the leadership of the APC in Yobe state.
“It’s my hope to reconcile issues in closed-door but unfortunately, I wasn’t opportune to make it.”
Machina countered in a statement that the letter is false and has nothing to do with him.
“It is brought to my notice that some unscrupulous elements have forged my withdrawal letter out of mischief and blackmail.
“I want to state unequivocally that the purported letter was forged. I did not at any time withdraw nor resign from my party,” the statement said.
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Discrepancies in the letter
“I was shocked when I discovered that some persons concocted plans to mislead the public, particularly my supporters into believing that I have withdrawn,” Machina explained, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
“The discrepancies between the two dates especially between the date of writing the purported letter and the date it was receipt exposed the authors’ inadequacies and lack of sufficient administrative knowledge.”
He said the letter is another fake news and the handwork of enemies of peace, and asked APC national secretariat to speak up on it since it has the official stamp of the secretariat.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not resigned nor withdrawn my candidature, I am in APC and have no intention to move to any party. I will (insha Allah) pursue my senatorial ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
“I have already instructed my lawyers to review the fake letter and take necessary legal actions against the culprit(s).”