Reports have it that the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] has taken a delicate decision, saying that voters disenfranchised in the rescheduled 2015 general elections will still be allowed to vote if there are enough proofs to show that they are legitimate voters.
A statement signed by the Chief Press secretary to the chairman of INEC, Mr. Kayode Idowu attests to this effect.
The statement reads in part:
“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 development arose as renewed calls for INEC to suspend the use of Permanent Voter Cards [PVC] and Card Readers [CR] intensifies.
Fears are that anti-rigging measures adopted by the electoral body i.e. PVCs and CRs may malfunction and ultimately disenfranchise legitimate voters.
Critics have kicked against this development, saying that it may give way to rigging by corrupt Presiding Officers who may be inclined, or induced, to abuse the opportunity.
Mudslinging between the All Progressives Congress [APC] and Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] have resulted to APC accusing the PDP of improvising ways to manipulate the upcoming elections.
The PDP, on the hand has accused the APC of attempting to tamper with INEC data base.