Bauchi- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bauchi said on Friday that it had received 5,385 card reading machines preparatory to the Mach 28 and April 11 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Hamman Sa’ad, made this known at a news conference in Bauchi.
The machines have been programmed to give detailed information about a PVC holder, including his thumb-print and bio-data.
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Sa’ad explained that the 4, 749 Pulling Units in the state would have one card reader each, while each of the state’s 212 Registration Areas would be allocated three more to serve as back-up
He explained that the main function of the card reader was to guard against rigging, by ensuring that only those with genuine INEC Permanent Voter Card (PVCs) were allowed to vote.
He added that the card reader would also ensure efficient and timely accreditation of eligible voters, as well as prevent multiple voting.
The REC further said that all was set for the test-run of the efficiency of the machines in a mock election scheduled for Saturday, March 7, in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi state.
“The purpose of the mock election is to test the efficiency of the card reader and also find out if there are areas that need to be improved on.
“It will also enable us ascertain whether our ad-hoc staff are well equipped to handle the device, or there would be need for re-training.
“We want to make sure that everything that needs to be address is addressed before the day of the elections,” he said.
He then appealed to the people of Jama’are, where the mock election will be conducted, to support INEC in its preparations for a peaceful, credible, free and fair election.
He urged them to consider the mock election as a call to national duty and come out en mass to participate in the exercise.
“This is not the actual election. What they would be doing is a service, not only for Bauchi state, but for the whole country.
“The success of the exercise will show and convince Nigerians and the world to have confidence in INEC and its readiness to conduct a credible, free and fair election, “Sa’ad said. (NAN)
