2015 Elections: INEC insist on using card readers to accredit eligible voters

Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, Tuesday,insisted that it will deploy card readers in the accreditation of eligible voters in the forth coming general election.

This was even as it expressed satisfaction with last Saturday’s mock election conduct in 12 states of the federation.

But the commission admitted that there were challenges with the electronic devices in some states,especially,in the South East, saying it would probe the development just as it said another mock test of the devices would be carried out.

In a statement,Tuesday,by Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to its chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC insisted that it was satisfied with the efficiency of the card readers to be used at the polls.

“INEC is satisfied that the use of SCRs in the 2015 general elections will add tremendous transparency and credibility to the accreditation process on election day.

“The commission hereby reassures the public that it will do everything necessary to ensure that the processes of the elections are seamless, free, fair, credible and peaceful,”the statement said.

According to the statement, INEC reassurance came after it held meeting with its top officials yesterday, “to consider field reports from the public demonstration of Smart Card Readers (SCRs) conducted in 12 states on Saturday.”

The states were Rivers and Delta (South-South), Kano and Kebbi (North-West), Anambra and Ebonyi (South East), Ekiti and Lagos (South West), Bauchi and Taraba (North East) as well as Niger and Nasarawa (North Central).

Credit: Joseph Erunke/Vanguard