Group Okays Proposed Electronic Voters’ Card

The Alliance for Credible Election (ACE), an NGO, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its plan to introduce electronic voters’ card for the 2015 elections.

The Deputy General Secretary of ACE, Mr Asuzu Echezon, gave the commendation in an interview with The Tide’s souirce in Abuja.

Echezon said that INEC’s decision would ensure transparency in the conduct of the next general elections.

“It is a good step in the right direction; technological advancement has a great impact on human life as it saves time and energy during operations.

“The process has already taken effect with the Introduction of Direct Data Capture Machine (DDC) to capture bio metrics data in the last voter registration. “

According to Echezon, the INEC has the responsibility to tackle some of the emerging challenges that will render it inefficient and ineffective.

He, however, expressed doubt if the nation’s infrastructure encouraged the use of electronic voters’ card as inadequate power supply was still a major problem.

He recalled that when DDC machine was used in the last voter registration many centres suffered power failure.

“Therefore, for electronic voters card to be effective, government must address the question of infrastructure in the country, most importantly power supply.

He said that INEC needed to be able to handle such sophisticated system, as people would be made to operate the machines.

“Does INEC personnel have the right capacity, manpower, training and knowledge to handle this kind of robust technology? “

He urged INEC to build the capacity of its officials to ensure efficiency during the exercise.

The INEC itself needs to be organised to be able to handle emerging challenges that might arise from the exercise. “

He stressed the need for the INEC to be truly independent to enhance the commission’s credibility.

INEC is the custodian of the sovereignty of the people, it is therefore necessary for Nigerians to be convinced that that the commission is independent as it is now be left at the magnanimity of the President.

“We need a process that will liberalise the electoral process to ensure free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, “ he said.