The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Card readers

  • TMG, NDI advocate Card Reader’s use for other polls

    TWO election observer groups, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), have advocated the use of the Card Reader introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the April 11 elections and subsequent elections.

    The two bodies spoke with reporters yesterday in Abuja on their findings on the presidential and National Assembly elections held at the weekend.

    TMG Chairman Ibrahim Zikirullahi, who urged INEC to improve on its usage in subsequent election, said its introduction was aimed at  enhancing the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that only eligible voters cast ballots on the election day.

    “The introduction of the card reader was intended to help enhance the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring only eligible voters could cast ballots on Election Day.

    “However, in practice on the election day, the Card Readers slowed the process. This does not mean that INEC should abandon the use of the technology to enhance elections. But more effort is needed to develop appropriate and dependable solutions,” he said.

    He added that logistical issues also delayed the opening of polling units, making the processes of accreditation, voting and counting more challenging for polls’ officials and voters.

    Praising  INEC so far for its steadfastness during the elections and its continuing efforts to ensure integrity of the process, he urged the election body to be transparent and timely in the collation process.

    He added: “TMG commends the security agents for the largely professional conduct they exhibited throughout the polling days.

    “TMG also recognises the dedication of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who served and continue to serve as polling officials despite the many challenges.

    “We commiserate with the families of the s officials killed by Boko Haram in Dukku LGA in Gombe. Above all, TMG commends Nigerians for their determination to exercise their right to vote and generally participating peacefully in the polling process.”

    The NDI, led by Ambassador Jonnie Carson, who also hailed the use of the card reader, however, wanted all the challenges it encountered to be tackled before the April 11.

    This, he said, would enhance citizens’ confidence and participation to mitigate violence during and after the next polls.

    Carson suggested that the high level of heightened security deployed during the polls be sustained so that the current electoral cycle can be sustained.

  • Catholic clerics seek probe of Card Readers’ failure

    THE Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called for a probe of the Card Readers deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in last Saturday’s election.

    The CBCN decried mounting tension across the country following the presidential election, calling on security forces to be at the alert to check any form of post-election violence.

    The organisation, which called on INEC to investigate the failure of Card Readers, said it was worried about the breaches in the electoral process and advised security agencies to evolve a special security plan for Rivers State before the governorship elections.

    A preliminary statement in Abuja yesterday by the Archbishop of Jos and President of CBCN, Ignatius Kaigama, and Bishop of Umuahia as well as Chairman CBCN’s Church and Society, Lucius Ugorji, said a well ordered society, which promotes the dignity of the family was essential for the spiritual growth of citizens.

    Expressing concern about the results flying in the social media, the Catholic bishops called on Nigerians to show restraint as this could potentially lead to chaos, if released results did not reflect those on the social media.

    The CBCN called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) to accept the result as declared by INEC and refrain from violence, if found unacceptable.

    The conference said: “The PDP and APC should enjoin their followers to keep the peace. This is the only country we have and it is everybody’s task to keep it as one. We enjoin the security forces to be at the alert and contain any post-election violence, and to be holistic in their approach to security by ensuring that in their attempt to prevent post-election violence, they do not leave the space open for sustained renewed attacks by Boko Haram, which is still a serious threat to the peace and security of our land and its people.

    “We were hoping that the use of Smart Card Readers would render useless ballot stuffing and ballot box snatching. We express serious concern about what will likely happen in Rivers State with regards to the governorship elections, where the stakes seem higher. We call on security authorities to evolve a special security plan for Rivers State.

    “While Card Readers gave so much promise before the elections, there appears to have been a general challenge with them. For instance in Nsukka, as reported by our observers, the situation with the Card Readers was so bad that many polling agents altogether abandoned them and resorted to manual identification of voters in the register, as later directed by INEC. We call on INEC to investigate what really happened after all the assurances given about the Card Readers.”

    The organisation noted that there were serious breaches of the electoral process with the possible collusion of law enforcement officials in some states.

    “In certain cases, no elections took place at some polling units, while at least one polling unit was reported for thump-printing in Akwa Ibom State with the aid of a security official. We hope that there will be significant improvement in the next election and some culprits would be brought to book as a deterrent to others,” it stressed.

    The CBCN also found out that due to logistic challenges, many observers reported late start of the accreditation process by INEC.

    “Our observers in Abraka, Ethiope East in Delta State, Karu Nasarawa State, Abuja Zones 4, Bende area of Lagos State, Kwajim Magaji Primary School, Kano, as at 10.30 am accreditation had not yet started. Up to 11 am, there were no INEC officials in FCT Area 10, Lekki, Lagos. We hope that INEC has learnt enough lessons not to repeat these logistic challenges in the next elections,” it stated.

    The organisation prayed that God will spare Nigeria “and make us come out of these elections a better, prosperous and secure nation.”

  • Again, PDP kicks against Card Readers

    Again, PDP kicks against Card Readers

    The presidential campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again kicked against the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use of Smart Card Reader for Saturday’s election.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director of Media and Publicity of the campaign, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that INEC has colluded with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to compromise the card readers.

    According to him, the contract for the production of card readers was awarded to companies owned by a friend and supporter of the presidential candidate of the APC, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fani-Kayode said: “Our concerns stem from the fact that the moving spirit and a major shareholder and board member of the company that supplied the card reader system and machines to INEC is not only a friend of but also an ardent and keen supporter of General Mohammadu Buhari and the APC.

    “That man’s name is Sani Musa and he is indeed the main force behind the company. The company’s name is Act Technologies Ltd. and the Chairman of the company is one Engineer SK Danladi.

    “How and why INEC would give the contract to supply the card readers to a fanatical APC supporter and to a man whose other company was officially blacklisted by INEC a couple of years ago for sharp practices, needs to be explained.

    “Sani Musa has expressed his undying support for the APC and General Buhari and his hatred and virulent opposition to the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan openly and publicly on his Facebook wall.

    “Some of his comments on Facebook read as follows: I stand with him (Buhari) for whatever reason and I imagine the kind of people given spaces in our nation’s news tabloids.  Hoodlums are having field day in Nigeria since the inception of GEJ’s administration.  Mad men, hooligans and vultures have taken over decency of the society.  May Allah save us from the torments of this (sic) rascals and expose their intentions on our nation state be it the Boko Haram, killer militants or by extension those in authority with wicked intentions-Amen.

    “Worst still, it is clear that certain aspects of and electronic components within the card reader system which will be used in Saturday’s election have not only been compromised but that the encryption codes and so-called ”master key” may have been made available to the opposition or their friends and agents. This will enable them to access the system, fabricate and generate fake votes and manipulate the voting patterns to their advantage.

    “This constitutes a very serious breach of security and it is a criminal offence. It is also very dangerous. Worst still it can easily be carried out successfully because, if done quietly and properly and without any deep scrutiny, it is virtually fool-proof.

    “All you need to make it work is to have certain relevant and key INEC officials that are in the know to work closely with the supplier of the card readers and an opposition party that is so hungry and desperate for power that they are ready to pay large sums of money to their friends and associates to help them get it by hook or by crook.

    “We believe that all those components are now in place and that the biggest and most brazen attempt to rig elections in the history of our country will take place on Saturday if the necessary measures are not taken to prevent it.

    “If the conspiracy is not exposed, if the Nigerian people do not rise up and demand answers, if the plan is not intercepted and aborted, if the Chairman of INEC does not answer the relevant questions and take the necessary steps and if the relevant individuals, including Sani Musa and his collaborators and co-conspirators in INEC and the opposition, are not called to order, arrested, interrogated and prosecuted their plan may well succeed.

    “In view of this dastardly plan that is in the offing and this unwholesome conspiracy, we call on the party leadership and faithful to direct our supporters and polling agents to be very vigilant at every polling booth and to guard and protect their votes. After voting they should stay at the polling booths to ensure that their votes are counted and that they are not manipulated or changed.”

     

  • INEC gets 6,673 Card Readers in Oyo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received 6,673 Card Readers for use in Oyo State.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Rufus Akeju, said this yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said: “In this state we have 5,620 voting points, 6,673 Card Readers have been received. A Card Reader, bearing particulars of not more than 750 voters, will be configured for each unit; 1,053will serve as contingency arrangement for the Card Readers that may malfunction.

    “Once fully charged, the battery of a Card Reader can last for about 12 hours with the in-built capacity to hibernate when not in use.

    The REC said over 20,000 youths, mostly made up of corps members, have been screened, trained and recruited as presiding officers and assistant presiding officers.

    He appealed to youths to eschew violence during the elections.

  • Rivers APC, PDP clash over alleged plot to steal card readers

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State yesterday traded words over an alleged plot to break into the warehouse of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and steal card readers.

    Rivers APC chair Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya alleged that the First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has perfected arrangements with the state’s leaders of the PDP to break into INEC’s warehouse and steal the card readers for general elections.

    Ikanya, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, stated that the arrangements were recently perfected.

    But, the Rivers PDP Publicity Secretary, Samuel Nwanosike,  described the claim as a lie and frivolous, warning the APC leaders against dragging the First Family, especially the First Lady, into Rivers politics.

    The President’s wife, an indigene of Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers state, had earlier stated that her husband would win majority of votes cast on March 28, but Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the Director-General of Buhari Campaign Organisation, declared that the First Lady was daydreaming.

    Nwanosike said: “APC leaders and members in Rivers State are so desperate to win at all costs. The allegation by Ikanya shows that the APC members have actually made up their minds to steal the card readers from INEC’s warehouse.

    “PDP members do not have such plan, because we have campaigned round the 23 LGAs of Rivers State and the people are ready to massively vote for all the candidates of the PDP. The First Lady cannot be involved in such criminal act. Rivers APC members just want to drag the First Family into Rivers politics, with their ridiculous and frivolous allegation. APC and Amaechi have failed.”

    Ikanya said: “We wish to alert the security agencies and the general public of the diabolical plan by the leadership of Rivers PDP to break into INEC warehouse in Port Harcourt to steal the smart card reading machines. According to our informant in PDP’s campaign organisation, who was privy to the sinister plot, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Rivers INEC, who has been compromised, assured the Rivers PDP chieftains that the gate of INEC would be thrown open around 2 a.m. on March 26, for what has been tagged ‘Operation Bat.’

    Ikanya said: “If this fails, then option two will be used, which is to frustrate INEC officials from using the smart card readers in Rivers State or totally stop the conduct of the elections in the state, to save the party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan from imminent defeat awaiting them during the 2015 polls in the state.”

     

  • Kaduna receives 7,827 card readers – REC

    Kaduna receives 7,827 card readers – REC

    Ahead of the next Saturday Presidential election, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kaduna, Alhaji Hussaini Ahmed Mahuta Tuesday said the commission has received 7827 card readers with the excess as backups that are yet to be configured.
    Mahuta who disclosed this while meeting with stakeholders preparatory to the elections, however stated that the backup card readers will only be configured when the need arises.

    He said 3 back up card readers will be dispatched to each of the polling units in the state.

    Meanwhile, he said 3,417,122 are registered voters in the state, out of which 3,404,481 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) have been received from INEC for distribution, but only 3,160,949 PVCS have been collected while 221,722 PVCS are yet to be collected, giving 92.85 percentage collections.

    The REC also said the distribution of the PVCs have so far been stopped except for the PVCs received in the last three weeks from INEC headquarters.

    Stakeholders which were made up of representatives of the various political parties, security agents, religious bodies and Civil Society Organisations (CS0s), IPAC, AU and EU observers sought clarification on issues bordering on security, thump printing, voting and announcement of results among others.

    The REC who proffer answers to the questions put across to him by the stakeholders‎, also informed that the Kaduna office has in its possession non sensitive materials while the sensitive materials are to be collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Wednesday with representatives of all the participating political parties in attendance.

    “So far, within the ambit of the const‎itution, I can say that INEC is fully ready for the election in the state, but we will require a peaceful atmosphere to perform our responsibility.

    “We are calling on political parties to talk to their supporters on the need to eschew all form of violence and any break down of law and order.”

    The security agencies in attendance also assured of their preparedness for the election and vowed to vehemently deal with any violator of law and order before, during and after the elections.

    They called on all eligible voters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner while those that have nothing whatsoever to do with the elections should kindly stay off the election venue.

  • Wayas to Jega: make Card Readers effective

    Wayas to Jega: make Card Readers effective

    A former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure effective use of Card Readers to forestall disenfranchising the electorate during the elections.

    Wayas, who spoke at a conference in Abuja, noted that “as much as Card Readers must be used, no efforts should be spared to make them work.”

    On calls for interim government, he said it was unconstitutional.

    “The call for an interim government as being agitated by some people is unconstitutional, as it is not enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

    “As the elections draw near, political party leaders should act as elder-statesmen and avoid actions and utterances that may cause a breach of peace and is capable of truncating our democracy. Campaign of candidates at this moment should be based on issues and not mudslinging, ethnicity or religion,” he said.

    Also speaking at the forum, one of the conveners, Tony Mike Akpan, praised the Federal Government and the security agencies on the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    Akpan called on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces with information in their quest to end insurgency in the region.

    He urged members of the National Assembly and their leaders to respect their chambers.

     

  • Still on card readers for 2015 elections

    SIR: The media has been awash with resistance and vigorous campaigns being mounted against the deployment of the E- card reader for the conduct of the 2015 general elections by the PDP and its cohorts.

    In a democracy, the majority must have their way while the minority must also have their say. The reality today is that the grounds for the rejection of the use of E-card reader by the PDP for the 2015 general elections smacks of mischief and unwillingness to be part of a free, fair, transparent and credible general elections as promised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and so the Nigerian people and the international community should understand the game being played and place it in proper perspective.

    The E-card reader is a technology that has been tested and deployed for successful conduct of elections in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and now being imported into our system with the aim of enhancing the credibility of our elections by INEC that has been working tirelessly to deliver on its constitutional mandate in a responsible and responsive manner.

    Under Prof. Jega- led INEC, we have seen improvements in the conduct of elections with the use of different ballot papers for different local government with the aim of eliminating electoral malpractices including ballot papers faking and ballot box snatching among others.

    We still have other notable developments in our electoral process that have reduced electoral malpractices during elections, earning INEC commendations from stakeholders and the general public, in the process.

    Today, elections are held in such a way that accreditations and public announcements of accredited voters take place before the commencement of actual voting and these to a large extent help in curbing electoral irregularities. Unlike what obtained in the past, election results are now announced publicly at the polling units to the hearing of all and it has succeeded in no small way in checking electoral malpractice.

    It was because of the successes recorded by INEC in its previous innovations that propelled it to look at the option of the E-card as another system of enhancing the transparency and credibility of our elections.

    Unfortunately, this laudable and responsible step is facing stiff opposition from political parties and groups who are well at home with electoral brigandage and want us to continue with the old shameful ways. The E-card reader is a devise that ensures that the spirit of democracy as enunciated in one man, one vote, one woman, one vote is respected and implemented.

    With the E-card reader, it is impossible for a voter to present PVC other than his own for voting. The E-card reader detects fake and cloned PVC within seconds and eliminates the possibility of a voter voting more than once for a candidate of his or her choice.

    Through the use of the E-card reader, it eliminates the undemocratic and unconstitutional culture of political parties purchasing PVC from voters with the aim of committing electoral criminality. The E-card reader thus curbs electoral robbery of massive thumb printing, which originates from the polling units and which has the potential of igniting crisis on election day and thereafter.

    The advantages of the E-card reader in enhancing our elections is an added value to our electoral system in the sense that it has the possibility of strengthening our democracy through responsible and responsive political class who will become aware that their political fate can be made or unmade through the ballot box.

    The field test of the E-card reader conducted by INEC in 12 states of 2 in each of the six geo political zones of the country on March 7th 2015, revealed that it was a huge success as the duration of its life span confirmed the statement of the electoral umpire that it can last for 12 hours as against the 5 hours designated for accreditation in polling units on election day.

    The E-card reader is not a mechanism for voting, but rather to confirm the authenticity of the voter so that enemies of progress do not shortchange democracy. So any person or party/person leading campaign of calumny and blackmail against its use must be understood for what he or she represents.

    Therefore, the wolf cries of those against the deployment of the E-card reader for the conduct of the 2015 general elections is not borne out of altruistic intentions, but because of their plan to employ undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional means to perpetuate electoral robbery that has now been foiled.

     

    • Nelson Ekujumi,

    Surulere, Lagos.

  • Court halts suit to stop INEC from using card readers

    Court halts suit to stop INEC from using card readers

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has stayed proceedings in the suit seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for deploying electronic card readers for elections.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola ordered stay of further proceedings in the suit Friday while ruling on an application to that effect filed by lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    Alex Iziyon (SAN) had initiated the suit on February 26, 2015 on behalf of four political parties, arguing that the proposed use of card readers for elections was a violation of the Electoral Act, which prohibits electronic voting. It is his contention that the use of card reader was an introduction of electronic element to the voting process.

    One of them, Action Alliance (AA) withdrew from the suit later, denying that it instructed the filing of the suit.

    Another of the plaintiffs, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has also indicated its intention to withdraw from the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/173/2015, leaving the United Democratic Party plaintiffs in the suit.

    Friday, Fagbemi, accompanied by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Kola Awodein (SAN) drew the court’s attention to an application for stay of proceed, which he filed before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    The APC and some other defendants in the suit had appeal the court’s ruling of March 13, abridging their time to respond to the substantive suit. While the others applied to the trial court for stay of proceedings, the APC applied to the Court of Appeal.

    Fagbemi urged the trial court to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of his appeal.

    Iziyon, who had insisted that the court hear the substantive suit with all pending preliminary applications, objected to Fagbemi’s application. He faulted Fagbemi’s application on the ground that he ought to have first, sought a stay of proceedings before the trial court before approaching the appellate court.

    Ruling, Justice Ademola held that it was just for his court to stay proceedings in the case in view of the fact that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the application by Fagbemi carried the appeal number of the appeal he (Fagbemi) filed.

    When an appeal is assigned number, it implies that the appeal has been entered and the appellate court has taken cognisance of the appeal. The lower court has no option than to await the outcome of such an appeal.

    Justice Ademola noted that the CTC of the motion (filed at the appellate court by Fagbemi and served on the trial court) carries the appeal No: CA/121/2015.

    He added that the counsel to the 2nd defendant (Fagbemi) has done what is required under the law. He held that in view of the development, the only option opened to the court was to stay proceedings pending the outcome of the appeal.

    Justice Ademola consequently stayed proceedings.

     

  • Polls: Party supports INEC on usage of Card Reader

    Polls: Party supports INEC on usage of Card Reader

    Contrary to the call by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its plan to use card reader in the forthcoming general elections.

    The National Chairman of the party, Mr. Olu Okunrinboye who spoke with newsmen on party issues in Abuja said the level of irregularities in the previous elections held in the country made the use of card reader necessary.

    According to him, “we in the ACPN accept the introduction of card reader because there will be less litigation and because it has so many advantages for credible, free and fair elections.

    “Those speaking against the use of card reader with due respect are not honest, they do not want free and fair election,” he added.

    Okunrinboye noted that in spite of the free and fair election promised by the INEC chairman, Prof Attairu Jega, he said; “little did he know that there were other forces and extra ordinary people with more brilliant ideas and intents to dwarf his anticipated free, fair and credible elections.”

    “Now, another brilliant group has now disclaimed the authenticity of the card reader’s machine,” he stressed.

    Okunrinboye stated that Alh. Gani Galadima who is parading himself as the presidential candidate of the party was a self imposed candidate who was never elected as the party’s flag bearer.

    He revealed that the a vote of no confidence was passed on Galadima by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party who later suspended him on 9th October for offence ranging from disrespect, disobedience to lawful directives by the national chairman and unilateral removal of constituted State executives among others.

    Okunrinboye revealed that the party has not aligned on merged with any other political party.