PDP To INEC: Tell Nigerians Outcome Of Card Reader Testing

The Peoples Democratic Party has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to tell Nigerians the final outcome of Saturday’s testing of Card Readers.

The party, however, said it had noted series of complaints from Nigerians regarding reported lapses experienced in the mock elections conducted by INEC, which put to test both the Permanent Voters Cards and the Card Readers.

The National Publicity Secretary, PDP, Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Saturday, said the worrisome fallout from the test “vindicates earlier widespread calls by stakeholders that the card readers should be thoroughly tested to ascertain their workability for free, fair and credible elections before being deployed for the actual polls”.

The PDP spokesman expressed worry over the alleged reported lapses, which he said included but “not limited to non-verification of voters’ fingerprints even after authenticating their PVCs, slow accreditation process as a result of poor internet server operations in some locations, and apparent inadequate knowledge of the card readers by both INEC officials and voters.

“Our response to the emerging problems and challenges from Saturday’s testing of the card reader is ‘RES IPSA LOQUITUR’- the fact speak for itself. The PDP and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians await INEC’s official response and or its final decision after such defining challenges”.

The party insisted that INEC must realise that Nigerians expect nothing short of error-free and transparent process for credible elections come March 28 and April 11.