Labour Party senatorial candidate Mr Labaran Maku has called for the cancellation of the Nasarawa bye-election, alleging widespread irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Maku, a former Minister of Information, made the demand during a press briefing at his country home in Wakama, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, where he raised concerns over the credibility of the exercise. The Nasarawa bye-election, he said, was compromised by alleged malpractice and procedural failures in multiple polling areas.
The Nasarawa bye-election was conducted to fill a senatorial vacancy in Nasarawa North. It involved candidates from major political parties and was supervised by INEC across several local government areas, including Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga, and Wamba.
Following the exercise, the Labour Party raised concerns about the conduct of officials and the integrity of results in several polling units. The party argued that electoral laws and procedures were not properly followed, prompting calls for an independent review and possible cancellation of the election.
Maku described the Nasarawa bye-election as fundamentally flawed and called for its cancellation and rerun under stricter supervision.
“I have observed that what took place in the bye-election in Nasarawa was a sham – a complete sham. I consulted with my party. We decided that the best option is to withdraw from the election.
“And we ask INEC to honourably cancel this election and conduct a free and fair election for the senatorial district,” he said.
He alleged that the Returning Officer failed to address complaints of fraud and manipulation raised by Labour Party agents. He further claimed that some areas did not experience proper voting, citing alleged cases of thumb-printing and non-use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
According to him, incidents affecting the Nasarawa bye-election were recorded in Nassarawa Eggon/Alizaga, Umme Ward, Alushi Ward, Agyaga, Ningo-Bohar wards, Gudi polling units in Akwanga LGA, and parts of Wamba Local Government Area. He also alleged that BVAS malfunctions and administrative lapses disenfranchised voters in parts of the Akun Development Area.
“In Wamba, we have cases of thumb-printing in Mama and quite a number of polling units in Wamba LGA,” he said.
Maku further stated that he had repeatedly warned before the Nasarawa bye-election about alleged plans to manipulate the process.
On their part, Labour Party collation agents and officials, including Dr Benjamin Ango, Mr Alidzi Godwin, Jacob Odobi, and Mr Stephen Habila, supported the claims, alleging evidence of non-use of BVAS, thumb-printing, and other irregularities during the Nasarawa bye-election.
The allegations surrounding the Nasarawa bye-election raise renewed concerns about electoral transparency and compliance with voting procedures. If proven, such claims could trigger further scrutiny of election management practices and reinforce demands for stronger safeguards in future electoral processes. The dispute also highlights continuing tensions between political actors and electoral authorities over trust in the conduct of bye-elections, particularly in closely contested senatorial races.
Maku has called on INEC and the Federal Government to investigate the conduct of the Nasarawa bye-election and ensure adherence to electoral laws. He maintained that only a transparent and credible process can restore public confidence. INEC is yet to issue an official response to the allegations at the time of this report.
