The Nasarawa State Government has carpeted the Labour Party (LP) candidate and former Minister of Information, Hon Labaran Maku over his allegations of plot to manipulate the upcoming Nasarawa North Senatorial by-election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The government described the claims made by the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the Nasarawa North Senatorial by-election, Hon Maku, as “false, malicious and entirely without foundation”.
Addressing journalists at a Press Conference on Friday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Lafia, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Hon. Peter Ahemba, stated that government completely distances itself from any plan to subvert the democratic process.
The government’s reaction followed a recent Press briefing held by Maku in Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the State where the former Minister of Information alleged that nine electoral wards in the local government were earmarked for manipulation in the forthcoming Nasarawa North senatorial by-election.
Maku had further claimed that Governor Abdullahi Sule was collaborating with top police personnel to strategically redeploy senior security personnel to favor the ruling party.
But dismissing the allegations, Hon. Ahemba described the claims as an attempt to save face ahead of an impending electoral loss.
”These claims are not only political grandstanding but also as the product of a candidate rattled by his own poor standing among the electorates in the senatorial zone. It’s on record that Mr. Maku has lost every elections that he stood alone. Perhaps, the former Minister, a serial loser is rattled by another imminent defeat at the forthcoming senatorial by-election”, Ahemba stated.
The government spokesperson challenged Maku to approach the proper authorities if he possessed any actual facts.
“We challenge the former Minister to provide evidence to support his claims if he has credible information about the Government planning to undermine the election,” he added, noting that the appropriate channel would be the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the police, “rather than making sweeping allegations in the media”.
The state government also debunked Maku’s claims that an election-tampering meeting was held recently at the Government House in Lafia.
Ahemba noted that Gov Sule was out of the state on official development duties on the day in question.
”Contrary to Maku’s claim that Governor Sule held meeting at the Government House with security chiefs to perfect a purported plan to undermine the election, the Governor was in Lagos and Abuja promoting the investment prospects of our state through series of engagements with foreign investors on the fateful day”, he added.
Furthermore, the government labeled Maku’s accusations regarding the redeployment of police area commanders as “particularly reckless” for a political figure of his status.
Ahemba reminded the former minister that state executives have no control over the administrative movements of federal law enforcement agencies.
”As a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Labaran Maku should understand that the deployment and redeployment of police personnel is exclusively within the constitutional mandate of the Inspector General of Police and the command hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force. The Nasarawa State Government has no such authority and has made no such request” , he said.
Expressing deep concern over Maku’s public assertions that electoral grievances could destabilise the region, the state government called on federal law enforcement agencies to keep a close watch on the Labour Party candidate.
”In view of the threat, we call on the police and other security agencies to take this threat seriously and hold the former Minister responsible in an event of violence during the exercise,” Ahemba urged, maintaining that “a responsible political actor should not deploy the threat of violence”.
While drawing a contrast between the opposition’s tactics and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s “rigorous grassroot campaign,” the administration reiterated its long-standing record of non-interference in democratic exercises since 2019.
The government reassured voters across the three key local governments in the senatorial district ; Akwanga, Nasarawa-Eggon, and Wamba that their safety and choices will be fiercely protected on June 20.
”Your votes will count, security agencies will protect voters before, during and after the election. Be rest assured that, no official of the State Government or any other individual or group will be allowed to intimidate voters or interfere with the process”, he said.
He therefore, expressed full confidence in the capacity of INEC and security agencies to deliver a credible outcome, adding that the state will continue providing all legitimate support to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
