Maku Demands Cancellation of Nasarawa North By-Election

The Nasarawa North senatorial by-election has sparked a storm of controversy, with Labour Party candidate Labaran Maku rejecting the outcome and demanding its cancellation.

Maku, a former Minister of Information, addressed journalists at his Wakama residence in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area. He described the exercise as a “sham” and accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to uphold electoral laws. According to him, the Returning Officer ignored complaints of fraud raised by Labour Party agents.

Maku alleged that the state government orchestrated the manipulation, claiming presiding officers were pressured on the eve of the election not to “disgrace” the government. He insisted that INEC merely provided a platform for vote allocation rather than conducting a genuine election.

The Labour Party candidate highlighted several areas where he said voting did not occur. In Nassarawa Eggon/Alizaga, Umme, and Alushi wards, he alleged that only thumb-printing took place, with no use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). He also pointed to Agyaga and Ningo-Bohar wards in Akwanga LGA, where figures were allegedly manipulated, and Gudi polling units where irregularities were reported.

In Wamba LGA, Maku claimed thumb-printing was widespread in Mama and other polling units. He further alleged that BVAS malfunctions in Akun Development Area disenfranchised many voters, particularly in his home community.

Maku urged the Federal Government to investigate the election, describing the conduct as a “national embarrassment.” He argued that the irregularities undermined Nigeria’s democratic process and demanded accountability from INEC officials.

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Labour Party collation agents across Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga, and Wamba LGAs backed Maku’s claims. Dr Benjamin Ango, the LP Returning Officer, alongside agents Alidzi Godwin, Jacob Odobi, and Stephen Habila, confirmed evidence of thumb-printing, non-use of BVAS, and breaches of electoral law. They pledged to present documented proof to support their case.

The press briefing was attended by key Labour Party figures, including Rep. Jonathan Gaza, LP governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, and Adamu Ninga, the party’s candidate for the Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency in 2027. Former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and Silas Agara were also acknowledged for their support during the campaign.

Maku’s rejection of the poll sets the stage for legal battles. He announced that the Labour Party would withdraw from the election and pursue redress through the courts if INEC failed to cancel the exercise. His position speaks to the hardening attitude of many opposition political parties on election transparency in the country.

This spat in Nasarawa North, though a localised affair, speaks to more persistent, recurring problems within Nigeria’s election architecture, such as ballot box stuffing, vote buying and voter suppression tactics. It speaks, for most analysts, of the imperative to more strongly embrace BVAS, reinforce security at polling centres and enhance accountability for the compilation of election results.

Following the declaration of results by INEC, whether this local conflict would spill into broader, national impact on electoral legitimacy in Nigeria will depend heavily on how the case turns out. The outcome could thus be decisive if Maku and the Labour Party prove convincingly in the court of law that the election did not take place as widely claimed, undermining Nigeria’s pursuit of electoral integrity in preparation for the 2027 elections.