The National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday gave an update on the state of preparedness of the commission for the coming elections, which will commence nationwide on February 14.
Jega said that the commission had distributed over 44million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) as at Tuesday just as he said over 90 per cent of the PVCs in the states awaiting collection. Over 68 million Nigerians have temporary voter’s card, which means that that about 24 million Nigerians are yet to get their PVCs, just nine days to the election.
Jega was represented at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room dialogue session with INEC’s accredited observers and political parties in Abuja, by a National Commissioner, Amina Zakari?
According to the INEC chairman, by Wednesday evening all the cards would have been in the states awaiting collection.
He said, “We have distributed over 70 per cent of the PVCs, we had no problems with the smaller states, only in the larger states of Lagos, Kano and Borno State which we are still working hard to overcome. All the card readers and the batteries which are supposed to last for twelve hours have all been deployed to the states.
We have also deployed all the non-sensitive materials while the ballot papers are being received and kept in the Central Bank in all the states.k
“Reports from the security agencies have given us the go ahead to go ahead and conduct elections in the three states of the North-east states which has been under the threats of the insurgents. We have begun testing the card readers. All of them are in the country. Training and rThe etraining of staff and adhoc staff. Election risk management tool has been deployed as well to ensure violence free elections.
“We have deployed insensitive material to the field and we have been tracking them. Ballot papers and sensitive materials are being received. On security we have the election risk management system.
“On logistics, we have signed a memorandum with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to provide transportation for election staff. What INEC needs from civil society is the needed support. On volunteerism for distribution of cards, we invite more persons to join us in distribution.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwnkwo, called on INEC to extend the period for the collection of the PVCs.
Nwankwo also asked the Federal Government to provide additional funds for the commission.
According to him, “INEC should extend collection by a few more day’s. INEC says it spends N300 million each day of distribution. The federal government should provide additional resources for INEC. Government should show same anxiety as that of Nigerians. Seems to be a lukewarm response from the government over challenges of INEC.
“Also is the debate going on and protest at INEC offices, it’s unnecessary distraction. We need to realize that the world is watching what is going on in Nigeria. Civil society is observing too and if we observe that if there are even judges who fail to understand the constitutional role they should play, and in their actions provoke mass crimes, we will gather the evidence and send to the International Criminal Court (ICC). All parties must be accountable for their actions. as civil society we are looking forward to the election. This meeting is to encourage observers who will be deployed for this election.
Catherine Weiss, the Senior Governance Advisor of the British Department for International Development (DFID Nigeria), said the world was watching Nigeria and that the country’s success in this election would be Africa’s success.
