THE CARD READER CHALLENGE

    The electoral umpire for the 2015 elections,INEC, introduced a new technology for the elections called the Card Reader. The card reader is a mobile like technology, which looks like the popular POS machine. The Permanent Voters Card (PVC), according to the chairman of INEC Proff.Attaihru Jegga is verified the by the Card Reader  which checks for validity and acceptability of the Voter's card.
    This new technology according to the INEC chairman Proff.Attaihru Jegga will reduce the rate of electoral rigging and manipulations as recorded in previous elections since Independence in 1960. Convincingly, the Card reader was put to test in the National Assembly, right in front of Senators and Honourables.
    Unfortunately, there are complaints all over the country, where the Card Readers are being used, for its ineffectiveness and its inability of verifying many valid Permanent Voters Card including that of the president Dr.jonathan and his wife, mrs Dame patience Jonathan.Also in various polling boot/unit, some voters believed that INEC officials which are mostly Youth Corpers, are not properly trained on how and what to do when or if the card reader fails. A friend called me later that day and told me that he was even the one that adviced an official ,that he should remove the nylon cover that covered the face of the Machine.
    Despite the fact that the card reader faced alot of challenges in various polling unit across the country,which in some instances leads to the election being postponened insome part,till the next day and till April 11 when the Gubernatorial ELection will be held. The Card Reader in some parts of the country was regarded as the a commendable initiative from INEC.
    Speaking to the press after he finally got accredited after several attempt,the president Dr.Goodluck Jonathan GCFR said,INEC should not be blamed,because the Card Reader is a new invention to nigeria's electoral process, and that being the first time,such challenges are normal to be faced.
    Also, while speaking to gthe press,the main opposition and candidate of the APC, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari, commends INEC for the initiative and the effectiveness of the Card Reader in his polling unit, and also expressed dismay about the incident of the card reader with the President and his wife.He also adviced his supporters to be calm & peaceful no matter what the outcome may be.
    Thanks to INEC for making use of their plan B which allowed eligible voters to makke use of the manual process in areas where the Card Reader fails.
Personally,i think this is a great initiative by INEC. This is because most civilised countries of the world make use of electronic machines in their electoral processes. And as the saying goes "the journey of a thousand miles starts with a step",so being the first time such will be introduced in our Elections, we should not have expected a 100% efficiency with the machine. I believe that subsequent ELections in 2019 shall be with few or no complain, because according to the INEC chairman, Proff.Jegga, INEC has learnt its lessons.
                                            OLAWOYIN TOLANI MUSTAPHA
                                           Faculty of Law,Unilorin.