News InvestigatorsLabaran Maku, the Labour Party candidate in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, has commended voters for their peaceful conduct during Saturday’s poll.
Maku gave the commendation after casting his vote at about 1:10 p.m., in Wakama Clinic Polling Unit, Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
The former Minister of Information expressed optimism that he would emerge victorious if the election remained free, fair and credible until the end of the exercise.
“So far, the election here is peaceful, and that is what I have always advocated as a man of peace.
“Elections are not theatres of war but an avenue for the electorate to freely choose candidates of their choice and elect good leaders for the development of the country,” he said.
Maku, however, alleged that he had received reports of electoral malpractice in some polling units across the senatorial district.
According to him, there were reports of thumb-printing at Alushi-Wachuku Polling Unit in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
“I also heard reports from Ningo-Bohar that some people attempted to smuggle ballot papers into the polling centre, but the youths resisted them.
“I have equally received reports that in some polling units in Wamba Local Government Area, some people are bending the rules,” he alleged.
The Labour Party candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that every eligible voter was allowed to vote and that every valid vote counted.
He also alleged that some prospective voters were unable to vote due to malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which he said failed to capture their fingerprints.
“I want to call on INEC officials to ensure that every eligible voter casts his or her vote in this election,” he said.
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