Jega Addresses Senate On Poll Shift

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega has said that his Commission was set for the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Feb 14 but the national security adviser, retired Colonel Dasuki Sambo, and the service chiefs forced them to be postponed to March 28.

INEC’s Chairman, Attahiru Jega.

Jega spoke when he appeared before the Senate to display the workings of the Permanent Voter Cards and Card Reader Machines. Jega said both electoral instruments are in accordance with the Electoral Laws.

The INEC boss said the Card Reader Machines can work for 12 hours without electricity. He also said it had been tested in 13 states.

According to him, INEC is empowered to change the Temporary Voter Cards with the PVCs.
He said the six weeks period of extension for the election will further ensure free and fair elections. Jega, according to the Eagle, tested the use of the PVC and the Card Reader Machines with the PVC of Senator Bukura Yerima.

As soon as the PVC was slotted into the Card Reader Machine, it displayed the photograph of Yerima, who is from Zamfara State.

Jega also has revealed that his commission conducted a mock test on the card readers to be used in the 2015 general elections in all six geopolitical zones of the country. He said the  card readers passed all thirteen tests it was subjected to which border on its effectiveness and reliability.

According to Daily Post, Jega noted 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.

After Jega’s presentation,  the Commission’s Director of ICT, Engr. Chidi Nwafor, addressed the senate on the nature of the card readers, its level of deployment and demonstrated how it would works before the lawmakers.

The process was also tested on Senator Chris Ngige, Senator Bukola Saraki.
It will be recalled that earlier today INEC released the latest figures that showed the progress the commission has made in sharing Permanent Voters cards across the country as at February 17, 2015.