The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Gombe has said it remain resolute on its decision to use card readers during Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.In a press statement released by the commission on Wednesday 7th April 2015, it said, INEC has already reviewed operation of Card Readers during the last elections and has taken measures to ensure proper accreditation of PVCs during the forth coming elections, even as it emphasised that, no manual accreditation would take place at the polls.
Part of the release reads, ” INEC therefore, notifies the public that card readers will be used for the April 2015 elections and it will enforce the provisions of the guidelines which reschedules elections to the next day should a card reader fails and cannot be replaced by the commission within the specified time frame.”
The release further states that in its preparation for the forth coming elections, the commission has also resolved to distribute ballot papers to its presiding officers only based on number of Permanent Voter’s Cards and not based on Number of Registered Voters. This it said was an effort to improve credibility of election results as well as avoid any possibility of manipulation or rigging during the electoral process.
Saying the commission is prepared for the avoidance of doubt, to cancel any election result whose votes are more than the number of PVCs distributed in the polling units.
In the same development, Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner Barr Kashim Gaidam has urged all political parties to maintain restrain and conduct themselves according to the provision of the electoral act particularly as they prepare for the next elections, according to him, INEC on its part, would ensure level playing grounds for all political parties in other to achieve free and fair elections.
Gadam who spoke to reporters in an interview in Gombe, also emphasised the need for the people to give maximum cooperation to security agencies by giving the information in other to ensure adequate security during elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner also used the medium to symphatize with the families electoral officers who lost their lives in the line of duty during the 28th march elections when members if the Boko haram attacked the state.
State Deputy Police Commissioner also DPC Inakwu also told reporters in an interview that, the Nigerian Police and other security agencies have already re-strategized their effort to ensure adequate security of lives and property before, during, and after elections.
He however, warned that, other security operatives and paramilitaries who do not have constitutional backing should stay away from operating during elections
