The Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that the smart card reader which was introduced into Nigeria’s political space in 2015 has lost his efficacy as politicians have found a way to manouvere it.
This was stated when INEC National Commissioners Festus Okoye and Haruna Mohammed were speaking at Nigeria Civil Societies Situation Room (NCSSR)’s review of the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections in Abuja yesterday November 27, where they also said they lack the power to cancel the recent elections in the state despite reported of violence.
According to Okoye, “We must also find solution to the issue of smart card reader. The smart card reader has. lost its efficacy. The smart card reader has lost its vibrancy in relation to the electoral process, because the political elite has found a way around it.
“So, rather than use the smart card reader, they just ignore it, because ultimately, they know that when they get to the court, what the court will be saying is that: ‘you want to prove over voting? We want to see the voter register and we want the INEC forms and not the smart card reader’.
“So, as far as I am concerned, the smart card reader has become a redundant instrument and inconsequential,” Okoye added.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Kogi West Senatorial District supplementary election schedule to take place on Saturday, 30th November, the electoral umpire declared that the commission will deploy and continue to use the smart card readers for elections, including the election at Kogi West.
This was made known via the commission’s official Twitter handle. Read below.
