Labour Party candidate in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, Mr. Labaran Maku, has commended voters for maintaining peace and order during Saturday’s electoral exercise while expressing concerns over reports of alleged irregularities in some polling units.
Maku, a former Minister of Information, spoke shortly after casting his vote at the Wakama Clinic Polling Unit in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area at about 1:10 p.m.
He described the voting process in his area as peaceful and orderly, noting that the calm atmosphere reflected the democratic values he has consistently advocated.
According to him, elections should serve as a platform for citizens to freely choose their representatives rather than becoming avenues for conflict and violence.
The Labour Party candidate expressed confidence in his chances of winning the by-election, stating that he remained optimistic of victory if the process continued to be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
While acknowledging the peaceful conduct of voters in many areas, Maku alleged that incidents of electoral malpractice had been reported in some parts of the senatorial district.
He claimed that reports reaching him indicated cases of thumb-printing at the Alushi-Wachuku Polling Unit in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
Maku further alleged that there were attempts by some individuals to introduce ballot papers into a polling centre in Ningo-Bohar, adding that vigilant youths in the community resisted the move.
He also raised concerns about alleged violations of electoral guidelines in certain polling units within Wamba Local Government Area.
The Labour Party candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict compliance with electoral regulations and guarantee that all eligible voters were given the opportunity to participate in the exercise.
He stressed the importance of protecting the integrity of the election by ensuring that every valid vote was counted.
Maku also alleged that some voters experienced difficulties during accreditation due to malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which he said failed to capture their fingerprints.
He urged INEC officials to promptly address any technical challenges and ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised as a result of equipment failure.
The by-election is being closely monitored by stakeholders, with expectations that the outcome will reflect the will of the electorate across the Nasarawa North Senatorial District.
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