Youths Protest at INEC’s Office over Field Test of Card Readers

Jega: We will meet aspirations of Nigerians

Chuks Okocha Ripples from last Saturday’s test run of the Smart Card Readers (SCRs) and the distribution of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) continued as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, yesterday assured that the commission will meet the aspiration of Nigerians for credible and transparent elections.

Youths under the aegis of Middle Belt Concerned Youths had staged a protest at the headquarters of INEC in Abuja, against the use of PVCs and the Card Readers for the elections.

The INEC chairman, who spoke when he and the national commissioners met with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to review preparations for the forthcoming elections, said INEC would examine the gaps and other things in the next few weeks, stressing that “the commission is doing its best to ensure free, fair and credible polls.”

The meeting might be the last before the March 28 election. The commission is billed to meet with the leaders of the registered political parties today.

The meeting comes barely 24 hours after INEC declared it’s satisfaction over the outcome of the field test of the card readers last Saturday in 12 states.

According to the INEC chairman, the commission was meeting with the RECs in order to have a final review of the preparation for the elections.

He said the meeting would review outstanding matters relating to the distribution of PVC sand the mock demonstration of the Card Readers.

The INEC chairman assured that “our best will be good enough in terms of meeting the aspirations of Nigerians for free and fair elections.”

He said the Commission needed to do everything possible to ensure near perfection and get the support of all stakeholders.

According to him, the commission will engage in the election process within the legal frame work and the laid down code of conduct.

Jega further charged candidates to respect the peace accord signed both at both the presidential and state levels.

He underscored the need to ensure peaceful elections, saying peaceful elections will promote stability and development for the country.

However, the youths who stormed INEC’s vicinity at about 10.14am were prevented by armed policemen and other security agents who cordoned off the INEC office.

Although the security personnel prevented the protesters from accessing the entrance of INEC they were received by an Assistant Director Security, Victor Egbo, who received their protest letter with a promise to deliver same to the commission chairman.

The youths said they were at INEC to register their grievances against the use of the PVCs and Card Readers because of what they said were the failures recorded during the recent mock exercise conducted last Saturday by INEC.

President of the group, Yunusa Yusuf, said ”judging from what transpired during the exercise, it has been proven that batteries of the Card Readers do not function for more than three hours. The question therefore is, what happens if the battery fails during the election proper, especially in the rural areas?” he queried.

He further alleged that the APC and INEC plan to rig the forthcoming elections, saying that the claims of APC supporters in Kano and Lagos states that the machines are working are mere cover-up.

According to him, “for the simple fact that APC and INEC are on the same page on the use of PVCs and Card Readers speaks volumes about their plan to rig the forthcoming polls, which all right-thinking and well-meaning Nigerians must resist with vigour.

“If the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters in Kano and Lagos states claimed that the electronic machines did not fail during the mock exercise in their states, they are simply playing to the gallery; it is a cover-up and a far cry from the ugly reality starring everybody in the face.”