The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission,
Prof Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday, reiterated his preparedness
to conduct the general elections as scheduled but maintained that
only the military could guarantee the sanctity of the March 28
and April 11 dates. Jega, who appeared before the Senate to
explain the level of INEC’s preparedness for the elections,
however, stunned many of the lawmakers when he revealed that
one million Permanent Voter Cards had yet to be received by
the commission from the manufacturers.
The Senators had thoroughly grilled him after he made about
three-hour presentation and demonstrated how the card readers
work.
Responding to a question by the Minority Leader, Senator George
Akume, to give a clear assurance on the dates, Jega replied,
“I think it is a very difficult question to answer.
“I have said consistently that there are things under the control
of electoral commission and there are things that are not under
the control of electoral commission. For things that are under
our control, I can give definite and categorical assurances.
“On what is not under our control, it is futile, it is fruitless
and useless to give a definite guarantee on them. I think that
question should be directed appropriately. The questions of
security, I will leave it, I don’t think I am competent to
answer it sufficiently.”
Asked how he would respond if the security agencies requested
a further delay, Jega said doing so would be illegal.
He then made reference to a constitutional provision that
requires elections to be concluded at least 30 days before May
29, when a new government must be sworn in.
“Every Nigerian knows we want elections to hold… within a
constitutional time frame. The security agencies are (made up of)
patriotic Nigerians. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt,” he
told the senators.
He added, “We should be fair also to the military. Soldiers are
also patriotic Nigerians. I don’t see how anybody will contemplate
any extension beyond these six weeks.
“There is no constitutional grounds upon which you can do that.
For us, we work by the constitution, by the law . That is
what is guiding us and we should all put the interest of the
nation at heart.
“The human factor is always significant, it is always important
but we believe that working together with security and other
stakeholders, we should be able to prevent negative human
intervention that can create problems.
“I kept saying consistently that INEC is not a security
organisation. We are an election management body; so we rely
a lot on security to be able to ensure that things are done
well and that there is no disruption of the electoral process.
“We have been working very closely with the inter agencies
consultative committee on election security and that is why for
us, if the service chiefs say that we can’t guarantee security,
give us more time, what is the alternative security
arrangements ?
“If we consulted with the stakeholders and we cannot find an
answer, what happens? We are going to use close to 700,
000 ad hoc staff. We can’t send people to the field in that
kind of a situation.
“Our prayer is that in the next six weeks, there will be
significant improvement in the security situation for us to hold
the elections all over this country in a very secure environment.
“There are certain questions that we are not really competent to
answer. Certain questions should be directed to the military; they
can answer them better.”
The INEC boss expressed confidence in the effectiveness of the
card readers, stressing that their use for accreditation during the
elections would not contravene any provision either in the electoral
act or in the constitution.
He also said that anyone who clones and tries to prevent the
use of the card readers would be treated as a criminal.
Jega said, “We have done the functionality and durability tests
on the card readers with a local partner, with their technical
partner in Texas in the United States. There were 13 specific
tests that were done about their functionality, durability and
versatility. The card readers passed all the tests.
“We have done some few tests and the result we have is about
90 per cent successful. We feel comfortable that the card
readers can be used. They will add value to the electoral
process.
“It cannot be 100 per cent perfect. It may not be able to read
every finger and that is why we agree with political parties. We
bought 182, 000 card readers. Some of them did not work.
“Of the total number of card readers that we ordered and
configured, only 503 had failed to work. That is 0.03 per
cent of the total. The agreement is that if a card reader fails
during accreditation, then, we will try and repair it within the
time of accreditation which is between 8am and 1pm.
“If a card reader fails around 10am , before 1pm, we will do
everything possible to replace it but if we are unable to do so,
the time lost will be added to the accreditation period and
extended.”
On the high rate of PVC collection in three states under
emergency rule in the North-East, Jega wondered why Nigerians
were heaping the blame on INEC.
He said, “Why should anyone blame INEC for that? There is
a need for us to have clarity on this matter. In Yobe State,
only two local government areas are under emergency rule and
the state is among the second phase in the distribution of the
PVCs.
“In the state and about 11 others, we distributed cards as far
back as July 2014. So if the rate of collection is very high, I
don’t see why that should be seen as a problem. In Adamawa
State, only four LGAs are inaccessible and we deviced a system
where PVCs were distributed to Internally Displaced Persons.
“So, as many as had been displaced but who had registered
have been able to collect their cards. But when you look at the
way newspapers do their analysis, they tend to project it as if
there is regional slant in the distribution of the cards.
“When we designed the distribution of cards, we did it in such
a manner that we took two states each from each geo –
political zone to make a phase and we did it in three phases
just to avoid being accused of having regional slant in the
distribution of the PVCs.
“It will be wrong to assume that Yobe State or any other
state has higher rate of collection. If people come out to collect
and others did not , why should INEC be blamed for that.
Jega, who said there was no case in court that was capable
of preventing INEC from holding the elections as scheduled,
added, ‘‘As I speak to you, 800,000 to one million cards are
yet to be produced.’’
He however gave assurance that the PVCs would be produced
and delivered to their owners before the days of the elections.
The INEC boss described the purchase of PVCs by some
people, especially politicians, as a criminal offence .
He said, “If we have information on criminal purchase or
cloning of the cards, we will invite the security to investigate.
People can clone our cards but if they are not issued by
INEC, then they would not be read by our own card readers.
“The PVC carries the information of the voter which is in our
database. We refrain from using the card readers for voting
because the constitution is against it. We have cases where
corps members were forced to alter accreditation figure but now
if the number of the votes cast is different from the number
accredited, the entire result of the polling units will be cancelled.
Jega said that if security would be guaranteed in IDPs’ camps,
INEC could make arrangements to take care of them.
He said, “There is an online system where people can find out
details of their registration. Ghana used card readers and it was
relatively successful. Likelihood of card reader’s failure is very
remote.
“Its usage will not violate either the electoral act or the
constitution. There is difference between voting and voting
process. We are well advised we are on solid legal standing on
the issue.”
He added that INEC did not ask for card reader usage in the
Electoral Act because it was not necessary since the existing
law guarantees the arrangement.
He said the PVCs would be permanent because it could last
for 10 years, adding that “by 2019 we hope that the National
Identity Card project would have materialised so that INEC
could draw out the data of people of voter age from the NIMC
database.”
Jega added, “Whereas section 52 of the Electoral Act prohibits
the use of electronic voting, the card reader is not a voting
machine and it is not used for voting, it is merely an electronic
device introduced to improve the integrity of the voting; process.
“It should be remembered that sections 78 and 118 of the 1999
constitution grant INEC powers to register voters and to
conduct elections in Nigeria. Using the card reader has enormous
advantages; first, once it is configured, it can only read PVC
issued by INEC at the polling unit that it has been configured.
Second, it reads the embedded chip card not the back code.
“Third it enables authentication of the identity of the voter by
matching his or her fingerprint with the code on the chip of the
card. Four, it keeps a tally of all cards read and all cards
verified or authenticated with all their details, including the time
when this was done.”
The demonstration of the card readers on the floor of the
Senate was commended by Senators Bukola Saraki and Ita
Enang, who said the development had shown that INEC was
fully prepared for the polls.
Senate President, David Mark, in his closing remarks said the
Senate had confidence in the ability of the electoral umpire to
conduct free, fair and credible elections.
He, however, urged the management of the commission to feel
free to contact the leadership of the National Assembly for any
assistance that would make the elections a huge success.
source: http://www.punchng.com/news/jega-i-cant-guarantee-pollsll-hold-on-march-28/

Wise Man


Sai Buhari

So without soldiers we can't have elections? Our police have finally been reduced to boys scouts.

Before we crucify Jega, please consider the fact that his job is a delicate one made even more difficult by the lies and propaganda our politicians spew out everyday especially the PDP and APC. In all the best rigger will win but while they are at that the election will take place and a new leader will be elected or the incumbent will remain. Either way, we Nigerians should try as much as possible to keep ourselves safe during the election. Do not join the politicians in their war to get to power at all cost. This is an excerpt of my message that the mods deleted in another thread. It seems someone doesn't like the message in bold. I am posting on several links to get the attention of Nigerians to keep themselves safe. MODS I have not preached hate or violence but security consciousness please do not delete again

Before you join them in heating up the polity ensure you get a guarantee from them that they, their children, wives, friends who have benefited from them would be the first line of defense while we follow from a distance. If they are so passionate about this democracy and want to show their full commitment then they must lead by example starting from the battle field not the pages of newspaper, raising alarm to blackmail each other while riding on our own sentiments to cause tension and confusion. Since they love us so much then they must show it first by leading any protest that may occur as a result of any anomalies from the forthcoming election.

Jonathan might join APC tomorrow and he would be welcomed with pomp and pageantry and his in actions excused. Do not lose sleep or your life over them, they are only doing their jobs of lies, division, hatred and propaganda. Remember 3 million people died in the Civil war, there are no monuments to even recognise or appreciate the blood they sacrificed for Nigeria which unfortunately is still a country not a nation. The seams joining us are bursting at the hems due to the magnanimity and genourosity of our politician when preaching division and hate. Please protect your life. Do not promote or encourage violence, Nigerians will suffer most.