Nigerian Senators Seem To Be Moving Against Card Readers, They Say It Violates Electoral Act As Jega Is Summoned

by Dia Zamani

The attempt by a section of the Political class to clamp down on card readers may be headed for successes as the Senate is insisting going ahead with that method for the polls Violates the electoral act.

In his motion which came under matters of urgent public importance, Ndoma-Egba had argued that Jega had a week before the postponement assured Nigerians that the commission was ready to conduct the election until the security issue was raised by the service chiefs.

The lawmaker maintained that deployment of card readers by Independent National Electoral Commission to accredit voters was contrary to section 52 of the Electoral Act 2010 and that it was necessary that senators get briefed adequately by Jega in plenary.

‘It is necessary that Jega brings the card readers here to demonstrate how it works to us,” he said. However, senate minority leader George Akume (APC, Benue) contended that whereas he was not against Jega’s summon, it was also important that the senate invites the service chiefs who compelled INEC to shift the polls due to their inability to provide security.

“INEC has said it was ready until the issue of security was raised by the service chiefs. They should therefore come here and tell us why they failed to provide security for just a day or two exercise,” Akume argued.

Meanwhile the senate has invited chairman of the INEC Professor Attahiru Jega to appear before it on Wednesday morning over the postponement of the February general elections.

The decision was arrived at after a motion on the matter was raised by senate leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross Rivers) praying the House to as a matter of urgency invite the INEC boss to brief them in plenary.

Mark then asked senators to come alone with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) on Wednesday by 11am to enable them test the card readers.