Professor Attahiru Jega
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has promised Nigerians a “clean” voter register for the 2015 general elections.
The commission said this will foil the plans of those who have the intention of rigging.
INEC also revealed the ongoing work on scientific measures to counter the problems multiple voting, sale of voter cards to politicians and snatching of ballot boxes.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, in an interview said the electoral body was determined to conduct flawless elections.
He added that presently, INEC was removing fictitious names given to criminal practices by unscrupulous politicians and voters.
Idowu assured that the commission was working hard towards producing a foolproof voters’ register “very seriously,” noting that it would not disappoint Nigerians during the next round of the elections.
“We are going to have a register that is near-perfect. The argument during the 2011 elections was that because of time constraint, we couldn’t get a good register.
“This time, it will be a different matter. We have been cleaning it up (voter register) and consolidating the data up to the national level, capturing the 36 states,” he stated
On whether the commission would use the updated register during next year’s governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, he said: “As we clean it up, we will put it up 30 days before an election. We will use it in the Anambra, Osun and Ekiti elections,” he stated.
The INEC official also said the register was not affected by the January 7 fire incident that gutted its registry at its national headquarters in Abuja.
He also said the agency would begin its Continuous Voters’ Registration in the first quarter of this year, adding that it would not hold in all of its 120,000 polling stations but at the wards.
Idowu said INEC would procure card readers, which would verify chip-based voter cards before voting.
“We have already decided that in 2015, we will use card readers to verify voters. We will conduct the electronic verification of voters nationwide.
“In 2015, we will simply swipe a voter card in a card reader to determine if someone presenting it is the legitimate owner of the card.
“This will makes the abuse of voter cards virtually impossible. You can only use a card that belongs to you. That way, we will stop abuse and multiple voting.”
He said, “INEC will issue Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to all registered voters. Remember, we contracted the production of the first batch of 40 million cards (out of 73.5 million registered voters).
“We are taking delivery of those very soon and begin distribution surely this year. The process of contracting the second batch of cards has since begun and will shortly be concluded. Temporary voter cards will not be used in 2015.
“We are buying the first batch of card readers this year. We will buy more next year.”
When questioned on electronic voting, Idowu said the commission carry out a pilot test in some areas with a modicum of Internet knowledge.
He however stated that this could not be achieved unless the National Assembly gives INEC powers to determine the modalities for elections.
He listed sections 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55 and 60 of the Electoral Act as areas which the commission was asking the National Assembly to amend.
“We have proposed that all those sections that prescribe prohibitive modes for conducting elections should be changed. We have proposed that INEC should be empowered to draw up regulations and guidelines for elections.
“INEC should have some freedom on what kind of procedure should be adopted. You can’t impose e-voting nationwide because of the literacy level.
Idowu further queried that “Can e-voting be actualised at all polling stations at the same time? If the legal framework is changed, INEC can pilot-test e-voting in some places.
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