Use Of Any Finger During Election Can Promote Rigging – Taiwo Oyetibo

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, has shared his worry bout statements by the Independent National Electoral Commission that voters could make use of any of their five fingers as opposed to only the thumb permitted in previous polls.

He said INEC itself might just be paving way for massive rigging.

His words, “If the experience from election petitions is anything to go by, the use of any finger to cast votes is a veritable subterfuge for multiple ‘thumb-printing’ of ballot papers.

“Under the former voting regime, it was easier to detect multiple ‘thumb-printing’ of ballot papers by observing the size and shape of the print on the ballot papers, as the sizes of the other fingers are naturally narrower than the thumb.

“But with the permission of the use of any finger to cast votes, it would seem that the floodgate of multiple ‘thumb-printing’ of ballot papers have been flung open.

“It is hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission will reconsider its decision on this issue so as to make subsequent elections more credible.”