INEC Chairman Prof. Jega appeared before the National Assembly this afternoon to explain why the election was postponed and also demonstrate how they would use card readers during the elections.
Speaking to members of the Senate, Prof Jega talked about politicians who are rumoured to have bought PVCs in some parts of Nigeria like in Ebonyi state where about 300 PVCs were stolen. He said that stealing PVCs is an exercise in futility as the cards would be useless during elections.
He said those who have stolen cards are only disenfranchising people as only those with credible PVC’s would be accredited during the elections. Continue…
He said there are rumors that politicians are buying cards to reduce the strength of their oppositions at a particular place. He said the PVCs would last at least 10 years and can be used in future elections.
Prof Jega revealed that about 800,000 to 1 million PVCs are yet to be produced
“As I speak to you, 800, 000 to 1 million cards are yet to be produced. The collection rate has averaged 75.94 percent,” he said.
He however promised that the PVCs would be produced before the March 28th date for the presidential elections.
Asked under what circumstance can a voter vote without PVC vote, he said under no circumstance. Prof Jega said it is only with a PVC that any one can vote because most people who have Temporary voters card carried out multiple voters registration.
Prof Jega said he cannot say whether the elections would hold on the new dates. He said there are things that are not under the electoral commission’s control, one of which is security issues. He said the election postponement would give them time to train all their officials, particularly those who would handle the card reader.
On whether the card readers was clone-able, he said they can be cloned but that they cannot be cloned successfully to be used with the INEC PVCs. He said only accreditation detail information would be sent to the INEC server.
He said he cannot answer questions bordering on security and advised that the service chiefs be invited.
