The Nasarawa State Government has dismissed allegations by Labour Party senatorial candidate, Labaran Maku, that the June 20 Nasarawa North by-election is being manipulated, describing the claims as false, malicious, and a sign of political desperation.

Addressing a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Lafia on Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Peter Ahemba, rejected Maku’s assertion that Governor Abdullahi A. Sule was collaborating with police to redeploy security officials to influence the poll.

Ahemba said the claims amount to political grandstanding by a candidate rattled by his poor standing in the senatorial zone.

The government stated that Governor Sule was in Lagos and Abuja on the day Maku alleged he held a meeting with security chiefs to perfect a rigging plot.

Ahemba noted that promoting investment for the state was the purpose of the governor’s trip, and that the APC’s record does not require manipulation to defend.

On the allegation of police redeployment, Ahemba said the deployment of personnel is exclusively within the mandate of the Inspector General of Police, not the state government. He questioned why other serious candidates in the race have not raised similar allegations.

The government challenged Maku to present any credible evidence of a rigging plot to INEC or security agencies instead of making sweeping claims in the media.

Ahemba said election results are determined at the polls, not at press conferences, and urged the Labour Party candidate to allow the process to run its course.

Ahemba also expressed concern over Maku’s suggestion that electoral grievances could trigger insecurity and called on the police to take the remark seriously and hold the former minister responsible if violence occurs during the exercise.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles and said Nasarawa has witnessed peaceful elections and increased voter participation since 2019.

Ahemba said the administration has never interfered with INEC’s mandate or influenced security agencies in discharging their electoral duties.

Assuring voters in Akwanga, Nasarawa-Eggon, and Wamba, Ahemba said the by-election will be free, fair, and peaceful and  urged all political actors to conduct themselves responsibly, expressed confidence in INEC and security agencies, and pledged government support for a credible exercise on June 20.