LP’s Labaran Maku Rejects Nasarawa North Senatorial By-election, Calls For Cancellation

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Labaran Maku, has rejected the outcome of last Saturday’s Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, describing the exercise as heavily manipulated and compromised.

The Source reports that the All Progressive Congress, APC, flagbearer, Danladi Envulu-anza polled, 45,362 votes to defeat Maku, the Labour Party candidate who garnered 12, 931 votes to place a distant second, while Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic party PDP came third with a total of 11, 570 votes.

But at a media briefing on Sunday, Maku who served as former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Information, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to cancel the polls, insisting that the results declared does not truly represent the will of the electorate.

“I have observed that what took place during the by-election in Nasarawa North was a sham, a complete sham. I consulted with my party, and we have decided that the best option is to withdraw from the election.

“And we ask INEC to honourably cancel this election and conduct a free and fair election for the Senatorial District”, Maku stated.

This was as he accused the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led Nasarawa state Government of masterminding the alleged large scale heist that characterized the polls.

He alleged that despite voting not taking place in many polling units owing to the malfunctioning of the BVAS, outrageously large number of votes were recorded in favour of the candidate of the ruling party in the state.

The former Minister expressed serious concern that the election was marred by irregularities,and fraudulent practices despite his earlier warning,and notice to the electoral umpire.

Maku particularly alleged that in his Nasarawa Eggon Local Council, as well as other places, many voters  were disenfranchised due to the failure of the BVAS to capture their finger prints.

“There was no reason for anybody to wait until the finger print alone is accepted. You can use facial recognition and let people vote”, he added.

Besides mass disenfranchisement, Maku alleged several cases of ballot box snatching, manipulations in many polling units and other criminal activities during  the election.

“Look, it is not about me accepting the result or not accepting it. It is the process, the transparency of the process that we are all concerned about.

“It is about the country winning. Democracy will prosper the nation if we allow it to be transparent”, Maku noted.

Although he did not disclose  the next line of action, there are strong indications that the former Minister of Information may be weighing the legal option, should the authorities ignore his complaints .