Nasarawa North Bye-Election: Maku Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot to Rig Election in Nine Wards
By Roseline Okafor, Lafia
The Labour Party (LP) candidate for the forthcoming Nasarawa North Senatorial bye-election, Mr. Labaran Maku, has alleged that the Nasarawa State Government is plotting to manipulate the outcome of the election through coordinated efforts in nine strategic wards across the senatorial district.
Maku made the allegation during a press conference held on Wednesday in his hometown of Akpata, near Akwanga.
According to the former Minister of Information, the nine wards allegedly targeted by the state government are located in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, where voter registration figures are high and support for the Labour Party is overwhelming.
He claimed that the government, having realized its inability to secure victory through the ballot, was resorting to plans aimed at undermining the electoral process due to the growing popularity of his candidacy across the zone.
“If you go to Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba Local Government Areas, you will discover that the Labour Party enjoys about 80 per cent support from the electorate.
This is a reflection of our grassroots engagement and commitment to serving the people. We have received reports of secret meetings allegedly being held to perfect plans to rig the election because they see no path to victory,” Maku stated.
The LP candidate further alleged that part of the plan includes the deployment of hired political thugs to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.
He called on the Federal Government to caution state governments against using security agencies to influence electoral outcomes.
According to him, electoral manipulation and political imposition often contribute to insecurity across the country.
“State governors create insecurity in their states through the imposition of candidates and the rigging of elections, and in the end, they blame President Bola Tinubu.
When people come out to vote and their votes do not count, it can lead to serious security challenges,” he said.
Maku also alleged that Governor Abdullahi Sule was working with the police to redeploy Area Commanders and other senior officers ahead of the bye-election, similar to what he claimed occurred during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections, which reportedly ended in controversy.
He further maintained that the APC had yet to conduct a valid primary election for the senatorial contest and instead imposed what he described as an unpopular candidate on the people of Nasarawa North.
Expressing confidence in his chances at the polls, Maku said the Labour Party remained well-positioned to win the election based on the support it enjoys across the senatorial district.
He stressed that the people of Nasarawa North are politically conscious and have a history of voting based on competence, credibility and performance rather than party affiliation.
“The people of Nasarawa North are enlightened voters. They do not vote merely because of party platforms; they vote for individuals they believe can effectively represent their interests and deliver quality leadership,” he added.
The Nasarawa North Senatorial bye-election is expected to attract significant political attention, with major parties intensifying campaigns ahead of the poll.
