The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has laid to rest insinuations that its card readers may disenfranchise some voters in the rescheduled 2015 general elections, explaining that those who may have issues with the authentication of their fingerprints by the card readers, will still be allowed to vote if there are enough proofs to show that they are legitimate voters.
This clarification was made yesterday in a statement signed by the Chief Press secretary to the chairman of INEC, Mr. Kayode Idown.
The statement said: ‘’The Commission has come to an agreement with registered political parties on what to do: namely that if a voter’s PVC has been read and it is evident that he/she is the legitimate holder of the card, but the fingerprints cannot be authenticated (or he/she doesn’t have fingers), the Presiding Officer of the voting point will complete an incident form and the voter will be accredited to vote. Party Agents and Observers would be there to witness this,’’ Idowu said.
This clarification is coming on the heels of renewed calls for INEC to suspend the use of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs and card readers on the basis that the anti rigging measures adopted by the electoral body may malfunction and ultimately disenfranchise legitimate voters.
