Labaran Maku, the Labour Party Senatorial candidate in the just concluded Nasarawa North by-election, has called for the cancellation of the Saturday’s poll, citing alleged irregularities and non-adherence to electoral laws by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials.

Maku, a former Minister of Information, made the call on Sunday during a press briefing at his residence in Wakama, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area.

Maku said he decided to call for the cancellation due to the failure of INEC officials to follow electoral laws during the poll, describing the exercise as a “complete sham.”

“I have observed that what took place in the bye-election in Nasarawa North was a sham. Complete sham. I consulted with my party. We decided that the best option is to pull out of the election,” Maku said.

He urged INEC to “honourably cancel this election and conduct free and fair election for the senatorial district,” insisting that the process did not reflect the will of the people.

Maku said he had earlier raised alarm over plans by the state government to rig the election.

“Gentlemen of the press, you will notice that prior to this election, I continued to alert the public about plans to disrupt it and to rig the election by the state government,” he stated.

According to him, the election was “run by the state government and its officials,” while INEC “simply provided the platform for the government to allocate votes.”

He alleged that on the eve of the election, presiding officers reported that government appointees warned them the state government “cannot be disgraced” and that “tomorrow, there will be no election.”

The LP candidate alleged that actual voting did not take place in several areas, but only thumb printing and non-usage of BVAS, listing Nasarawa Eggon/Alizaga, Umme and Alushi wards in Nasarawa Eggon LGA as being the affected areas.

Maku also mentioned Agyaga and Ningo-Bohar electoral wards and Gudi polling units in Akwanga LGA where he alleged manipulation of figures.

In Wamba LGA, he cited cases of thumb printing in Mama and several other polling units.

He further alleged that in Akun Area Administrative Council, his area, malfunctioning BVAS disenfranchised many of his supporters.

“If you notice what happened yesterday, in my areas and in some wards where they think they have no control, the BVAs deliberately did not work,” he said.

Maku claimed INEC officials either tampered with the BVAS or loaded insufficient data.

“They put data that will last for an hour, after which the data will finish and they will tell the public that the BVAs have developed faults,” he alleged, citing Sabon Wakama and Angwan Tsoko as examples where voters had to provide data for BVAS.

He also accused officials of refusing to use facial recognition when fingerprints failed.

“Even if it was not accepted, they don’t use face recognition. They would just ask the voters to go away,” he added.

He called on the Federal Government to investigate the election and INEC’s adherence to electoral laws, describing the situation as “a national embarrassment.”

He appreciated Rep Jonathan Gaza, the campaign team of retired IGP Mohammed Adamu, Mr Silas Agara, and other stakeholders for their support.

APC Dismisses Maku’s Allegations as “Unfounded”

The Nasarawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected calls by Labour Party candidate, Labaran Maku, for the cancellation of the bye-election, describing the allegations he raised as unfounded and a “gimmick of the opposition.”

Ogaba Augustine, Publicity Secretary of APC in the state, reacted to Maku’s press briefing where the LP candidate alleged widespread irregularities and asked INEC to cancel the poll.

(Daily Trust)

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