By Daniel Tyokua
The candidate of the Labour party in the Saturday’s Nasarawa North senatorial by-election, Labaran Maku, has called for the cancellation of the just concluded poll over alleged irregularities and non-adherence to electoral laws by INEC officials.
Briefing journalists on Sunday in Nasarawa Eggon, Maku, a former Minister of Information,said his call for the cancellation followed failure of INEC officials to follow electoral laws during the poll, describing the process as a complete sham.
He urged INEC to honourably cancel the election and conduct free and fair exercise for the senatorial district.
According to him, the election didn’t reflect reflect the will of the people.
Maku said he had earlier raised alarm over plans by the state government to rig the election.
“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.
“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.
“An election run by the state government and its officials, while INEC simply provided the platform for the government to allocate votes”
Maku alleged that on the eve of the election, presiding officers reported that government appointees warned them that 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.
