The Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC has confirmed that “that Card Readers will be used for the April 11, 2015 Elections.
Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu,secretary to the commission who confirmed this in a statement said, “The provision of the Guidelines for the conduct of the 2015 General Elections which outlined what is to be done if a Card Reader fails and cannot be replaced by the Commission within a specified time frame (i.e. Reschedule the election to the next day) will be enforced.
“The relaxation of the Guideline on 28th March 2015 was only with respect to the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on that date” she said.
According to the Secretary,”The Commission has reviewed the operation of the Card Reader in the 28th March Elections, identified the challenges and has taken adequate measures to address them.
CNPP Salutes INEC’s Insistence On Card Readers
The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties,CNPP has hailed INEC for insisting card readers for the April 11 gubernatorial elections.”We salute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for insisting on the imperative of the use of the Card Reader for the 11th April gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections. Mr Osita Okechukwu , national publicity secretary CNPP said in a statement.
“In other words, INEC has withdrawn the Guideline which it issued on 28th March, 2015 in respect of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on that date; which gave room for padding of votes in certain states that nearly marred the peaceful elections.
It is our considered view that Card Reader is an antidote to ballot box stuffing, ballot box snatching and padding of votes; hence ultimate reduction of electoral malpractices and all manner of irregularities.
Okechukwu said “On this count we call on our member political parties to instruct their candidates to place the collective interest of our dear nation above personal political survival by using and relying only on the Card Reader.
CNPP called “ on INEC as a matter of urgent national importance to rectify and take adequate measures to plug all the identified challenges and malfunctions of the Card Reader device, which featured on the 28th March 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections.
“INEC should take urgent steps without fear or favour to cancel any election conducted without the use of the Card Reader for its potential danger as evidenced during the presidential and National Assembly elections”CNPP said.
