The Labour Party candidate in the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, Mr Labaran Maku, has praised voters for what he described as a peaceful and orderly conduct during Saturday’s election.
Maku made the remarks after casting his vote at about 1:10 p.m. at Wakama Clinic Polling Unit in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
The former Minister of Information expressed confidence that he would win the election if the process remained transparent, free and fair.
He noted that elections should serve as a peaceful civic exercise that allows citizens to freely choose their leaders, rather than a violent or tense affair.
According to him, voting should remain a democratic process focused on development and the will of the people.
However, Maku raised concerns over alleged irregularities reported in some parts of the senatorial district.
He claimed there were reports of thumb-printing at the Alushi-Wachuku Polling Unit in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
He also alleged that attempts were made to introduce ballot papers illegally at the Ningo-Bohar area, adding that local youths reportedly resisted the move.
In addition, he said similar complaints had emerged from parts of Wamba Local Government Area, where electoral procedures were allegedly not properly followed.
The Labour Party candidate called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict compliance with electoral guidelines and guarantee that all eligible voters were allowed to exercise their franchise.
Maku further expressed concern over reported challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), saying some voters were unable to cast their ballots due to fingerprint recognition issues.
He urged electoral officials to address technical difficulties promptly to ensure that every valid vote counts in the final outcome of the election.