Card Readers mandatory for Gov, State Assembly election – INEC

Against allegation that election was conducted in few parts of the country during February 23 polls without the use smart card readers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it is illegal to conduct polls without the voting accreditation machine.

The Commission therefore denied such allegations by politicians and opposition political parties that emanated from the poll.

The Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in a statement on Tuesday, said: “INEC hereby states categorically that the allegations are absolutely false and the speculations are without any basis whatsoever.

“The use of the Smart Card Readers is not only mandatory but its deliberate non-use attracts the sanction of possible prosecution of erring officials in accordance with the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections.

This is in addition to the voiding of any result emanating from such units or areas, as was done in the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 23, 2019”.

He said since the conduct of the elections, there have been allegations from certain quarters that the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was selective in its use of Smart Card Readers (SCRs) in its conduct of the elections.

“These allegations have led to speculations that lNEC may be forced to jettison their use in the March 9, 2019 Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and Federal Capital Area Council elections.

“The general public and all officials engaged for the elections are hereby informed that the Commission is not reconsidering the use of these Smart Card Readers which has greatly improved the credibility of our elections and instilled a high level of public trust in them”.

To clear any doubt or ambiguity, Oyekanmi said: “We wish to state that the deployment and mandatory use Smart Card Readers in next Saturday’s elections will not only be uniform but also universal and the provisions of the Regulations and Guidelines will be strictly and vigorously enforced. All stakeholders are to note and be guided accordingly please”.