INEC Says No Going Back On Card Reader For Guber, States Assembly Polls

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, Nigeria 2015 Election Monday, April 6th, 2015

From Ganiyu Nasirudeen – Like the Presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed that Card Readers would be deployed for this Saturday governorship and Houses of Assembly elections across the country.

INEC Secretary, Ms. Augusta Ogakwu made the confirmation Monday in a statement on the preparation and guidelines for the weekend exercise.

Ogakwu indicated that the Guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 General Elections which outlined what is to be done if a Card Reader fails and could not be replaced by the Commission within a specified time frame (Reschedule the election to the next day) would still be enforced.

She informed that the relaxation of the Guidelines in March 28 polls was restricted to only Presidential and National Assembly elections, adding that the device performance in the first batch of poll, had been reviewed, while challenges have been identified and measures to address them have been taken.

Among the possible reasons adduced by the electoral body for mal-functioning of the machine over a week ago was the non-removal of the protective film on their lenses.

The INEC Chairman (Professor Attahiru Jega) Press Secretary, Mr Kayode Idowu, mentioned this a day after (Sunday) Presidential election in a television programme.