The Yobe North APC senatorial candidate, Bashir Machina, has denied withdrawing his candidacy for the president of the Senate Ahmad Lawan.
The state and national headquarters of the party, as well as some notable individuals, put pressure on Mr Machina to withdraw his candidacy for Mr Lawan.
Mr Lawan, who dropped out of the senatorial race to run for the party’s presidential ticket, was defeated in the presidential primaries by Bola Tinubu.
Mr Machina, in a statement issued on Sunday, insisted that he was still running and had not withdrawn or resigned from the party, Daily Nigerian reports.
“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.
“I was shocked when I discovered that some persons concocted plans to mislead the public, particularly my supporters into believing that I have withdrawn.
“The discrepancies between the two dates especially between the date of writing the purported letter and the date it was received exposed the authors’ inadequacies and lack of sufficient administrative knowledge.
“Although we suspect that this letter may be another fake news and the handwork of enemies of peace, the APC’s National secretariat must speak up on it since it is carrying 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“For the avoidance of doubt, I have not resigned nor withdrawn my candidature, I am in APC and have no intention to move to any party.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 (In shaa 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),” Mr Machina said.
