Nasarawa Govt dismisses Maku’s allegations of plot to rig senatorial bye-election
The Nasarawa State Government has dismissed allegations by Mr Labaran Maku, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Nasarawa North Senatorial District bye-election, that it was plotting to manipulate the June 20 poll.
Mr Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, made the government’s position known at a news conference on Friday in Lafia.
Ahemba described the allegations as false, malicious and lacking any factual basis.
He was reacting to claims made by Maku at a press conference in Akpata, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, where the former Minister of Information alleged that nine electoral wards in the area had been earmarked for manipulation.
Maku had also alleged that the state government was collaborating with security agencies to redeploy senior officers ahead of the election.
Rejecting the claims, Ahemba said the state government had neither interfered in electoral processes nor directed security agencies in the discharge of their duties since the inception of the Sule administration.
“The allegations are entirely unfounded. Gov. Sule has never directed, encouraged or facilitated any action aimed at undermining the electoral process,” he said.
Ahemba also dismissed allegations that the state government was influencing the redeployment of police personnel.
According to him, the deployment and redeployment of police officers fall exclusively within the constitutional responsibilities of the Inspector-General of Police and the command structure of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Nasarawa State Government has no authority over such matters and has made no such request,” he added.
He challenged Maku to provide credible evidence to support his allegations, stating that any genuine concerns should be reported to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, or other relevant authorities.
Ahemba said the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate were focused on grassroots mobilisation and engagement with voters ahead of the election.
He accused the LP candidate of resorting to what he described as “cheap blackmail” and attempts to create unnecessary tension in the polity.
The governor’s aide also expressed concern over Maku’s comments suggesting that electoral grievances could trigger insecurity in the state.
He urged security agencies to take such remarks seriously and ensure that all political actors conducted themselves responsibly before, during and after the election.
Ahemba said the Sule administration remained committed to democratic principles, the rule of law and the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections.
He noted that the state government had continued to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and other stakeholders to promote peace and prevent acts that could disrupt the electoral process.
The aide assured residents of Akwanga, Nasarawa-Eggon and Wamba Local Government Areas that the forthcoming bye-election would be peaceful, transparent and credible.
He expressed confidence in the ability of INEC and security agencies to conduct a successful exercise and pledged the government’s continued support within the confines of the law.
The Nasarawa North Senatorial District bye-election is scheduled to hold on June 20.