The Independent National Electoral Commission said it met on Monday to consider field reports from the public demonstration of Smart Card Readers 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).
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the commission, Mr. Kayode Idowu in Abuja on Tuesday, said INEC observed that its decision to deploy SCRs for the 2015 general elections had four main objectives.
These objectives, according to him were to verify Permanent Voter cards presented by voters at polling units and ensure that they are genuine, INEC-issued (not cloned) cards.
He said that from the reports on Saturday’s exercise, this objective was achieved 100 per cent.
Another one according to him, was to biometrically authenticate the person who presents a PVC at the polling unit and ensure that he/she is the legitimate holder of the card.
In this regard, he said there were a few issues in some states during the public demonstration, but added that overall, 59 per cent of voters who turned out for the demonstration had their fingerprints successfully authenticated.
Nevertheless, he added that the commission, in agreement with registered political parties, had provided in the approved Guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 elections that where biometric authentication of a legitimate holder of a genuine PVC becomes challenging, there could be physical authentication of the person and completion of an Incident Form, to allow the person to vote.
Another reason for the exercise, he added, was that the SCRs provided what he described as disaggregated data of accredited voters in male/female and elderly/youth categories.
He said this disaggregation was vital for research and planning purposes, but which INEC until now had been unable to achieve. The demonstration on Saturday fully served this objective.
Idowu said, “The SCR sends the data of all accredited voters to INEC’s central server, equipping the Commission to be able to audit figures subsequently filed by polling officials at the PU and thereby, be able to determine if fraudulent alterations were made. The public demonstration also succeeded in this regard.”
He said the commission nevertheless took a serious view of the high rate of the SCRs’ failure to authenticate voters’ fingerprints in some areas, particularly in Ebonyi State, and has decided to thoroughly investigate the cause; as well as repeat the public demonstration in that state.
He said this demonstration will be conducted in the particular Registration Area involved in the last exercise, namely Izzi Unuhu (Abakaliki Local Government Area); as well as in Ibii/Oziza Registration Area (Afikpo North LGA).
Although he mentioned that the repeat demonstration will be on Saturday, he added that the commission was satisfied with the last Saturday’s exercise.
He said, “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.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Continue ur work jega!
ReplyDeleteIf a voter not authenticated by the card reader can be allowed to vote under whatsoever condition, then the whole essence of the PVC is defeated!. NO AUTHENTICATION BY CARD READER, NO VOTE! Period!,, otherwise the whole essence is defeated. I forsee in some places where one party will rely on that condition to rig and thereafter comes out to claim victory. Can't INEC resolve this?, if not then better abandon PVC, don't deceive us. I'm beginning to see why a APR is insisting on the use of PVC while PRO is against, It seems APR have perfected plan on how to explore this weakness and rig. So NO TO PVC
ReplyDeleteWelldone Jega. Nigerians are solidly behind you. You must see to the end of this election. Keep the good work up.
ReplyDeletePretty Simple! Why the noise? Obviously there is more to the noise than said.
ReplyDeleteYes oooo.cont. d good work jega
ReplyDeleteSome of you are commenting based on sentiments. PVC was meant to eliminate voting by proxy and if a voter not authenticated by Card reader can still vote after all, then the use of PVC is much ado about nothing. It is not serving any purpose. There should be no alternative to vote if not authenticated by the card reader, else there is connivance by some people to rig. My opinion is postpone election, get the PVC issue right or forgo use of PVC with its flawed process. QED
ReplyDeleteWhy is the PDP crying foul with the President over card readers to reduce fraud or corruption or better still Stealing with modern technology like he has ever believed to fight corruption or Stealing in his government. One would expect that his supposedly revamp railway system, road, electricity, and the Transformation programme the President will embrace it, but instead he is apprehensive. Why ? He was given the opportunity on a platter of gold, instead of concentrating to please God, he was rather for 6yrs pleasing man, and of course man has disappointed him. He is now running from pillar to post looking for help, exposing himself to even the Devil, recently he offered himself to Yoruba traditional rulers for prayer. Who is Jonasthans Spiritual leader as a christian. Does he have one, or is he truly a christian that Christians are breaking their heads for him. He is not a christian, he has performed below average. I will not vote for Mr. President but Buhari for he has created this opportunity for Buhari. Nigerian vote massively for Buhari, let this be a lesson to others and be on polical history.
ReplyDeleteWhat will happen to those with genuine pvc but card reader could not authenticate them? Is that not the worst kind of dissenfranchisement.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmm but if inec failed today now everybody will say is PDP dat fail therefore if jega want to do anything dat will bring problems for dem it's good for them to talk
ReplyDelete