The Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election held on Saturday, 20th June 2026 elicited contrasting reactions from key political stakeholders, with Governor Abdullahi Sule commending the conduct of the exercise, while former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, alleged irregularities and technical glitches in some polling units.
Governor Sule, who cast his vote at Polling Unit 002, Gudi Motor Park, alongside his wives, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule and Hajiya Farida Abdullahi Sule, described the election as one of the smoothest he had witnessed in recent years.
Speaking with journalists shortly after voting, the governor expressed satisfaction with the accreditation and voting process.
“For me, this is the smoothest it has ever been. From BVAS accreditation to casting my ballot, it took just three to five minutes. Historically, this is the fastest I’ve seen,” he stated.
Sule also dismissed suggestions that the by-election would serve as a measure of his political influence ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the contest was more a test of the popularity and performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
“It is an opportunity for the people of Nasarawa North to say thank you to APC. By the grace of God, we are going to see a ‘thank you’ result,” he added.
In contrast, Maku, who voted in his Wakama Ward polling unit, raised concerns over what he described as widespread failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, in parts of the senatorial district.
While acknowledging that his own accreditation process was seamless, the
