Metro
Scorecard of INEC mock exam
It was a bag of mixed reaction that trailed the exercise embarked upon by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to test run the Card Readers to be used in the forthcoming general elections.
The commission Saturday, conducted mock voters’ accreditation in select constituencies across the country, recording successes, failures and apathy depending on the areas captured, and the interest of parties who reacted to the exercise.
While it took between two to 10 minutes to successfully test the machines in a handful of areas, voters simply refused to show up in some of the pilot test areas as captured.
The electoral body had picked one Registration Area in each of the 12 selected states of the federation to test the workability and efficacy of the Smart Card Reader.
While local observers and chieftains of political parties were divergent in their assessment of the exercise, international Observers, Mrs. Rumi Ana Decheva and Mr. Uros Urstga, who monitored the exercise commended INEC for the initiative, saying that it will add credibility to the country’s electoral process.
A voter, Mrs. Ojo Taiwo, who was verified at Dallimore Unit 002, said that she spent less than five seconds to get accredited. But another voter in Awka, said she observed that in some cases, the verification of the PVCs with the card readers lasted up to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, contrary to reports, INEC said only one case of a weak Card Reader was recorded at the commission’s Situation Room on Saturday.
INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega will meet with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Wednesday in Abuja to discuss the Saturday mock election, and the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the elections.
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