Labaran Maku, the Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Nasarawa North, has rejected the outcome of the recently concluded by-election, alleging widespread irregularities and calling for its cancellation.
Maku, a former Minister of Information and Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, made the announcement during a press briefing at his Wakama residence in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
He accused officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the state government to manipulate the process.
According to him, Labour Party agents raised concerns about fraud and manipulation during collation, but the Returning Officer failed to address them.
He cited instances of ballot paper thumb-printing, malfunctioning BVAS machines, and alleged vote manipulation in wards across Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga, and Wamba LGAs.
“This by-election was a sham, a complete sham,” Maku declared. “We have decided to pull out and demand that INEC cancel it and conduct a free and fair election.”
He urged the federal government to investigate INEC’s conduct, describing the situation as a “national embarrassment.”
In response, Augustine Ogaba, Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa, dismissed Maku’s claims, arguing that his declining popularity made victory unlikely.
Ogaba maintained that the election was credible, noting that APC’s candidate secured more votes than all opposition parties combined.
The controversy has heightened political tension in Nasarawa North, with calls for transparency and adherence to electoral laws ahead of future polls.
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