The Nigerian presidency has expressed concern with the use of voter card readers for the forthcoming elections, questioning its legality and efficiency, and defending an earlier position of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP on the matter.
Vice President Namadi Sambo said Thursday that while his party was not against the use of card readers, which the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says will help curb vote fraud, it was concerned whether the decision is backed by law and about the possibility of many Nigerians being disenfranchised.
The PDP has strongly criticised the use of card reading machines for the polls, while the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, backs INEC’s plan to deploy them for what is billed to be a close poll.
The ruling party argues that the use of any machine is not allowed under Nigerian electoral laws, but INEC says the electronic readers will be used only for card verification, and not voting.
The electoral body has also assured that it will provide for manual screening of voters where the machines fail, to ensure no one is disenfranchised – another concern expressed by the PDP.
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