Maku dismisses Nasarawa North bye-election result, calls for annulment due to widespread irregularities

Labour Party senatorial candidate, Mr Labaran Maku, has urged the cancellation of the Nasarawa North bye-election, citing widespread irregularities that marred the process. This call was made during a press briefing at his residence in Wakama, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, on Sunday.

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Maku, a former Minister of Information, emphasized that the necessity for cancellation stems from the failure of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to adhere to electoral laws during the exercise. He alleged that the Returning Officer neglected to address concerns of fraud and manipulation raised by Labour Party agents.

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Describing the bye-election as "a sham", Maku stated that he consulted with his party and they decided to withdraw from the election, requesting INEC to cancel it and conduct a free and fair election for the senatorial district. He pleaded with INEC to take this action honourably.

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Prior to the election, Maku claimed he had raised concerns about the state government's plans to rig the election, continuously alerting the public about potential disruptions and manipulation. He asserted that evidence now supports his claims, with the election essentially being controlled by the state government and its officials.

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According to Maku, INEC merely provided a platform for the government to allocate votes, with presiding officers being warned by government appointees not to "disgrace" the state government on the eve of the election. He revealed that this warning was reported to him by one or two presiding officers.

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Maku alleged that no actual voting took place in certain areas, including Nassarawa Eggon/Alizaga, Umme Ward, and Alushi Wards in Nasarawa Eggon LGA, where only thumb-printing occurred and the BVAS system was not utilized. He also mentioned specific electoral wards and polling units in Akwanga LGA where figures were allegedly manipulated.

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In Wamba, Maku claimed that thumb-printing occurred in Mama and several polling units, while in the Akun Development Area, BVAS malfunctions disenfranchised many of his supporters. These incidents, he argued, demonstrate the need for a thorough investigation.

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Maku called on the Federal Government to investigate the election and INEC's non-compliance with electoral laws, describing the situation as "a national embarrassment" that warrants proper investigation. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

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Maku expressed gratitude to various individuals and groups for their support during the election, including Rep. Jonathan Gaza, the campaign team of retired IGP Mohammed Adamu, and Mr Silas Agara, among others. He appreciated the efforts of these stakeholders in promoting a fair electoral process.

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Labour Party officials, including Dr Benjamin Ango, Mr Alidzi Godwin, Jacob Odobi, and Mr Stephen Habila, corroborated Maku's allegations of widespread irregularities, citing evidence of thumb-printing, non-use of BVAS, and INEC's failure to adhere to electoral laws. They confirmed that these incidents occurred in various local government areas.

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The press briefing was attended by several notable figures, including Rep. Jonathan Gaza, the LP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, and Mr. Adamu Ninga, the 2027 LP House of Representatives candidate for Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency, alongside other party members and stakeholders.