Professor Attahiru Jega
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed that a mock test conducted on the card readers to be used in the 2015 general elections in all six geopolitical zones of the country has seen the device successfully scaling all thirteen tests it was subjected to which border on its effectiveness and reliability.
INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing a committee of the whole of the Nigerian Senate. He was addressing the lawmakers on the level of preparedness of his commission to conduct the elections on the new date and on progress so far recorded by the commission. He also stated categorically that as at Tuesday, the distribution of PVCs across the country is at 75.94 per cent.
Jega further pointed out that INEC national commissioners have been dispatched to the states to supervise the distribution of the voter cards, adding that they went with the card readers which would be distributed within the area they are sent to.
The INEC boss pointed out that the card readers have nothing to do with the voting in itself, but is simply to be used in accrediting voters. While noting that the devise goes on sleep mode when not operational, he stated that it would allow the card readers last beyond the 12 hours capacity of its battery.
When Jega was done with his presentation, the Commission’s Director of ICT, Engr. Chidi Nwafor, spoke more on the nature of the card readers, its level of deployment and demonstrated how it would works before the lawmakers. The process was tested on Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zanfara State after which it was carried on Senator Chris Ngige. The card reader was also tested on Senator Bukola Saraki. They were all confirmed by the Senate President, David Mark.
The demonstration however resulted into a rowdy session as many of the Senators made to have their cards verified.
Comentários