Card Reader: INEC Admits Challenges, Okays Manual Accreditation

‎The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted the challenges posed by the use of Smart Card Readers (SCRs) in accrediting voters for the elections.

The commission has similarly blamed the late arrival of its ad hoc officials and election materials to some voting ‎centres in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on some problems it had with members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Dr. Chris Iyimoga, Chairman, INEC committee on Publicity stated ‎at a press briefing in Abuja.
Iyimoga explained that the commission has noted the challenges encountered in the use of the card readers,‎ resulting in slow accreditation of voters.
He added that even though the guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 elections p‎rovide that where card readers fail and cannot be replaced elections in such polling units will be postponed to the following day‎, “the scale of the challenge that we have observed has necessitated the reconsideration of the elections guidelines.
According to him, “The commission has therefore decided that as part of guidelines for the general elections, the polling units where the card readers have failed to work the presiding officer shall manually accredit voters by marking the register of voters, upon being satisfied that the person presenting a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) is the legitimate holder of the card.
“Those notwithstanding, the polling units where accreditation was suspended to the following day in accordance to the electoral guideline, arrangements will be made for voters to vote tomorrow subject to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2015 (as amended)”.
He however, assured Nigerians that the commission “would thoroughly investigate what happened”.
‎Iyimoga noted that accreditation commenced in good time in some parts of the country, adding that in Abuja, the problem with members of the NURTW had been sorted out.
He said he had gone round some polling units in the territory and was satisfied with the turnout of voters.
“That is not saying we didn’t have challenges. In a few others states of course, there were still a few delays but generally the commencement time was quite good across all borders.
“But like we said and will keep saying we can only do our best but there are other parameters to make up what we
call an excellent election. And the process of election has to do with many people.
A member of the committee, Dr. Ishmael Igbani said ‎no one can really say what went wrong in Otueke, Bayelsa State where the card reader failed to accredit President Goodluck Jonathan.
Igani observed that part of the process of using the card reader is that when such a situation occurs the incident form will be used.
On the hacking of INEC website, ‎Engr Nuhu Yakubu disclosed that the problem has been resolved and the documents in the hacked site relocated to another location.
His words, “So the INEC website as I speak with you now is up and running”.