The Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, conducted on June 20, 2026, drew mixed responses from political leaders. Governor Abdullahi Sule praised the election proceedings, whereas former Information Minister Labaran Maku highlighted various irregularities and technical errors at specific polling centers.
After voting at Gudi Motor Park, Governor Sule described the process as remarkably efficient. He noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) allowed him to complete his entire voting cycle in under five minutes. Sule emphasized that the election served as a referendum on the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration rather than a personal test of his own political reach.
In contrast, Maku reported significant difficulties regarding the BVAS technology at his local polling unit and other locations. He stated that many voters faced long delays due to fingerprint recognition failures. Maku suggested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should utilize facial recognition when devices struggle to process voters. Furthermore, he alleged that some machines ran out of data, requiring citizens to assist officials, and reported claims of illegal ballot thumbprinting in areas such as Alushi and Wacho.
While the atmosphere remained largely calm, Maku cautioned that the risk of unrest increases during the collation phase. He advocated for a political landscape focused on performance rather than manipulative tactics. The by-election was organized to replace the late Senator Godiya Akwashiki. At the time of this report, INEC had not yet commented on the technical complaints raised, and the counting of votes continued.
