ABUJA – Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday, foreclosed use of Temporary Voters Cards in the rescheduled general elections, insisting that the Permanent Voters Cards remains sacrosanct.
In an interface with members of the Senate, INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega explained that the PVC was to give credibility to the electoral process, adding that following the cleaning of the voters register, certain names including some TVC holders have been removed.
Although he could not guarantee the sanctity of the rescheduled election dates of March 28 and April 11, 2015, on the premise that they were beyond his control, the INEC chairman was hopeful that there would not be another shift.
According to him, there are things under the control of INEC on which, he could speak authoritatively, while there are others, over which the Commission lacks control and that asking his assertions on such would amount to fruitlessness.
He also informed the red chamber that the postponement has turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it has afforded the Commission the opportunity to fine tune its preparations towards the general polls.
Such preparations he enumerated to included improved distribution of the PVC, durability and versatility test of Card Readers to be used for the elections, training of electoral staff on the use of the Card Readers, inter-agency meeting to ensure security of the process and others.
He however admitted that between 800 and 1 million PVCs were yet to be produced and delivered to Nigeria for onward distribution to registered voters, while over 3,000 PVCs belonging to Ebonyi State have been snatched by unknown persons.The country’s electoral umpire further disclosed that of 120,000 Card Readers received so far from China, 503 were dead on arrival, but insisted on that the machines were the best for now, as they help to audit the accreditation figures in the electoral process.
Prof. Jega who initially addressed the Senate from 12.10pm till 12.40pm (30 mins), was grilled under questions and answers till 3.12pm (3 hrs 32 mins).
In his closing remarks, presiding Senate President David Mark expressed confidence in Prof. Jega’s ability to organise free, fair, credible and transparent election, and urged him to go with lessons he must have learnt from the interaction and take the best decision for the election.
The senate president also assured the visitor that senators “who wish to come back, want to come through a free, fair, credible and transparent election; no one of us wants to come through the back doors”.
ATTAIRU JEGA, INEC CHAIRMAN
