No use of temporary voter’s card for election – Bauchi REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded the electorates that only those who possessed Permanent Voter’s card will be allowed to cast votes in the forthcoming general election. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Commission in Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi stated this at a ‘Voter Education and Sensitisation Forum for People With Disabilities’ (PWDs) held at the INEC headquarters in the state on Friday. Abdullahi said, “Let me appeal to you to ensure that you go to your polling units on the Election Day with your permanent voters card, as only those with PVC will be allowed to vote while those with temporary ones will not be recognised “. He informed that the collection of voter’s card is ongoing at various electoral registration areas /wards and will end on 21st January, 2019 after which it will be revert back to the commission’s office in the local government headquarters of the state. The Resident Electoral Commissioner told his guests that the commission has also provided assistive aids such as magnifying glasses at polling units ‎for the Albinos just as it did during the Toro Federal Constituency by-election. He added that, Tactile Braille Ballots, Ramps have also been provided for easy access to the physically challenged and many other logistics to ensure the full and effective participation of PWDs in the electoral process, calling on their leadership to liaise with the Desk officer of the commission in order to identify areas of concentration for their members. Abdullahi said the effort was in line with special consideration for the PWDs as according to him, “a legal framework was recently approved which gives a special access to this group in the electoral process”. “Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission Framework on “Access and Participation of Persons With Disabilities “in the electoral process is a policy document aimed at supporting Persons with Disabilities to play active role in public life”, he explained. In his remark, the leader of the PWDs in Bauchi, thanked the Resident Electoral Commissioner for finding them worthy of exercising their civic responsibilities. “We are delighted that now the Independent National Electoral Commission has given us special recognition, a consideration which is first of its kind. The commission in the state exhibited this gesture during the last by-election that took place in Toro Federal constituency of Bauchi “. He said, as he spoke in a sign language interpreted by an expert ‎. Other members of the PWDs who thanked INEC for including them in the voting process also asked various questions regarding election processes as the INEC officials provided answers to each of the questions. Samuel Luka, Bauchi