The Nasarawa State Government has strongly denied allegations circulating online that some of its officials are involved in the thumbprinting of fake ballot papers ahead of the Nasarawa North National Assembly bye-election, describing the claims as false, malicious, and politically motivated.
In a statement issued today,  the government refuted a report purportedly published by a platform known as Nasarawa Reporters, which alleged that two state officials, Mrs. Usman Wandai and Mukthar Angbashim, were working with the State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman and other appointees to thumbprint ballot papers at the Government House in Lafia and at Gudi Farm.
The government described the report as a deliberate act of disinformation aimed at misleading the public, creating unnecessary tension, and undermining confidence in the electoral process.
According to the statement, neither of the individuals named in the report has any connection to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the conduct of the bye-election.
It explained that Mukthar Angbashim serves as a Commissioner with the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), an agency responsible only for local government elections, and therefore has no role in the National Assembly bye-election.
The statement further clarified that Mrs. Usman Wandai is currently at home recovering from childbirth and has not participated in any election-related activities.
Government officials argued that the inclusion of the two names in the report exposed the lack of credibility of the allegations, noting that neither individual has any involvement in the management or conduct of the election.
The government also accused opposition elements of resorting to misinformation campaigns after sensing likely defeat at the polls. It claimed that the spread of such allegations followed a pattern of attempts to discredit the electoral process before its conclusion.
The public, media organizations, and election officials were urged to disregard the report and rely only on verified information from official and credible sources.
The statement concluded by commending INEC personnel, security agencies, and other stakeholders for their efforts to ensure a peaceful, free, and fair electoral process in Nasarawa North, while calling on all political actors to respect the democratic process and allow voters to freely express their will.