The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reitrated that the electronic permanent voters card will, in a very substantial way, contribute to the credibility of 2015 general elections, pointing out that the chip-based voter card will checks multiple voting and help in authentication of voters.
This position was stated by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Kayode Idowu, in an exclusive in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY.
He stated that the chip based permanent voter card, which would be used in 2015 general election, will be a fail-safe mechanism to authenticate voters at the polling units.
According to him, “The commission is going ahead to procure card readers in batches so that by 2015 when card reader will be used, we won’t need to use this temporary voters card anymore as they will be used to authenticate and verify the voters”.
The benefit of the system, he said, include the avoidance of multiple registration as well as voting and the allegations of buying up voters cards from people as reported in the past.? He said: “In a very substantial way it is going to add to the credibility of the elections, as it would help to checks multiple voting and the authentication of voters”.
Idowu explained that so far there was nothing in the law now that prevents the use of permanent electronic voter card. He further added that the chip based permanent electronic card will cover the 73.5 million people that were registered last year.