The presidency yesterday came out to defend its earlier position of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on INEC’s use of card reading machines for the 2015 general elections. It did this by questioning the legality and efficiency of using the device in the forthcoming elections.
Vice President, Namadi Sambo who disclosed this argued that while his party was not against the use of card readers, which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, believes will help curb electoral fraud, it was concerned whether the decision was backed by law and about the possibility of many Nigerians being disenfranchised.
Making this remark in Kano, the Vice President disclosed that his party cannot be afraid of the card readers since it was certain of winning both the March 28 and April 11 elections. He stressed that the party was only kicking against the use of the device because their failure may lead to the disenfranchisement of many Nigerians.
Sambo, while questioning the place of the card reading machine in the Electoral Law, asked, “If it is not there (in the law) then does it mean it is illegal? And can we depend on an illegal thing when we are talking of a free and fair election that will lead to having credible leaders?”
He asserted that the PDP-led government was greatly committed to making sure Nigerians elect leaders through an election worthy of international recognition.
The Vice President enjoined Nigerians to take a careful look at the electoral law and see whether the use of card readers is recognized.
Taking a potshot at the opposition party, Sambo said, “Our party has been there since 1998. It has never changed name or colour. It is the party Nigerians want and the party they will vote in to continue doing good things.”
The Vice President’s remark on Thursday makes it the first the presidency would be speaking on the controversy that has engulfed the use of card readers by INEC.
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