The Nasarawa State chapter of the Labour Party has rejected the results of the 2nd November Local Government chairmanship and councilorship elections in the state, which saw the ruling All Progressives Congress winning in all 13 Local Government Areas.
Punch reports that the state LP chairman, Alexander Ombugu, expressed his discontent on Friday during a State Executive Council meeting with the party’s candidates in the recently concluded elections.
Ombugu alleged that the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) misled the party into participating by promising a free and fair election while favouring APC candidates.
He stated that the party would not have participated in the election had NASIEC not assured political parties that the election would be fair.
Ombugu accused NASIEC of appointing some APC supporters as electoral officers across the 13 LGAs, alleging that ballot papers were hijacked in areas perceived as strongholds for the Labour Party in order to manipulate the election outcome.
He also highlighted an issue with the N550,000 deposit paid by Hon. Ede Osu, a candidate for the chairmanship position in Nassarawa LGA, who was denied the opportunity to complete his payment and participate in the election. Ombugu stated, “Since Hon. Ede Osu was not allowed to participate because his name was not shortlisted by NASIEC, the best course of action is for NASIEC to refund his N550,000.”
Another councilorship candidate, Hon. Friday Ozeegee Haruna, was reportedly unable to contest in the Ungwar Rimi electoral ward of Keffi LGA due to the absence of election materials.
