Nasarawa North bye-election: Maku alleges plot as NSG “maps nine wards” to rig vote

By John D. Wada, Lafia

Labour Party, LP, candidate for the Nasarawa North Senatorial bye-election, Labaran Maku, has alleged a plot by the Nasarawa State Government to rig the forthcoming election.

He made the allegation during a press conference at his hometown, Akpata near Akwanga, on Wednesday.

—“Nine wards mapped out in Eggon”—

Maku said the nine wards allegedly mapped by the state government are all in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, where voter registration is high.

He added that because the government knows it cannot win the election, but is intimidated by his popularity across the senatorial zone, it has resolved to rig the election.

“If you go to Nasarawa Eggon, Akwanga and Wamba local government areas, you will find that the Labour Party has 80% of the support. It is because of our grassroots initiatives and commitment to service to the people,” Maku said.

“We have reports of secret meetings by the government to rig the election, having seen no chance of winning.”

*Alleged plans include political thugs*
Some of the alleged plans, he said, include the use of hired political thugs to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

He called on the Federal Government to caution state governments against using federal security agencies to create confusion during elections.

“State governors created insecurity in their various states through imposition and rigging of an election and at the end they will blame President Tinubu. People will come out and vote but their vote will not count, this can cause serious insecurity,” he said.

—Police redeployment allegation–

Maku said Governor Abdullahi Sule is collaborating with the police to redeploy area commanders and other senior officers, just as was done during the APC primary elections that ended in crisis.

According to him, the APC has yet to conduct a primary election for the senatorial bye-election but has imposed an unpopular candidate on the people.

He expressed optimism that the Labour Party will emerge victorious.

—“People vote competence, not party”—

He emphasised that the people of Nasarawa North are politically enlightened and do not vote for candidates based on party affiliation, but on competence and credibility.