BY OMOS OYINBODE, ASABA
Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to win the confidence of voters on the viability of the card readers.
The Governor, who gave the charge during the demonstration of the use of card readers by INEC officials in Asaba, explained that most Nigerians resident in difficult terrains were apprehensive to the card readers’ ability to deliver credible results.
He said that INEC has a duty to perfect the practicability of the card readers as well as sensitize Nigerians on its importance and usage in order to win the peoples’ confidence and support.
“I want to appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission to build and win the confidence of Nigerians on the efficiency of the card readers as people are apprehensive over them especially those living in difficult areas of the country”, he added.
According to the Governor, it was alarming that over four hundred thousand (400,000) permanent voters cards (PVCs) were yet to be collected in Delta State, stressing that there was need for the people to be encouraged to go and get their PVCs.
“In Delta State, over 405,022 PVCs have not been collected. It is important we have every opportunity to collect our cards so the 6th of March will be a work free day for Deltans to enable them go back to their wards and collect their cards”, he stated.
Earlier, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikowak explained that the card readers were created in an effort to improve the issue of voters’ accreditation during the elections.
He said that the card reader was an improvement on what the INEC did in the 2011 elections, assuring that the commission was determined to ensure free, credible and acceptable elections.
Mr. Ikowak disclosed that over 5,800 card readers would be used in all the poll units in the state adding that “4 to 5 card readers will be used in each polling unit depending on the amount of voters and all card readers have been configured for each polling unit in the state”.
