INEC has achieved 75% distribution of PVCs, says Jega

INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega said the electoral umpire
has achieved 75 per cent in the production and
distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Jega promised that all eligible voters would have gotten
their PVCs before the commission will lower the curtain
on distribution by the end of this month, preparatory for
the general elections on February 14 and 28.
The INEC chief spoke, who spoke yesterday at a two-
day conference organised by Bayero University, Kano,
(BUK) entitled: "INEC and the 2015 General Elections:
Expectations, Prospects and Challenges," also accused
politicians of threatening INEC officials on duty as well
as inducing with monetary gratification to dance to their
tunes.
According to him, the disposition and the change of
attitude by politicians would determine the attainment of
credible, free and fair elections next month. He said
politicians are bent on winning elections, "by hook or
crook."
Prof. Jega assured that INEC would be ready to conduct
elections in the troubled Northeastern states with
adequate security arrangement, even as admitted that
elections would come with serious challenges.
He, however, expressed optimism that with the
cooperation of all stakeholders, the elections will turn
out the best the country has ever had.
His words: "At the end of it all it is the voter that will
give the final decision in the process. As election
management body, we will do our possible best to
provide level playing ground.
"We are humans and we are doing our best, but that
could not be enough that is why we are calling on all
stakeholders to also put in their best. Together we can
ensure that free, fair and credible elections are held.
Nigerians should also use their election rights and
improve in the credibility of the exercise
"We inherited over-bloated structure, but we have re-
structured it for better, in terms of doing away with
areas that were hitherto too loose and duplicating. On
policy matter, we looked at both strategic and
operational policies.
"We trained ourselves in maintaining to be non-partisan
and highly professional. All necessary planning that
could improve in an open, transparent and accountable
elections are put in place."
On the desperation of politicians to win elections, Jega
accused politicians of threatening INEC officials on duty
as well as inducing with monetary gratification to do
their biddings.
According to the INEC chief, the Commission has
received a number of cases where National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) members working for INEC were
threatened and stampeded by politicians when they turn
down their offer.
"I am not bashing politicians, but the general tendency
is disturbing as they want to win by hook or by crook,"
Jega insisted.
He, however, urged politicians to change their attitude of
desperation, adding that the February elections will be
difficult for politicians to manipulate.
The INEC chairman also regretted a situation where
politicians have resorted to cloning the Permanent
Voters' Card (PVC), warning that such attempt would at
the end be to their own detriment as the PVC is so
programmed that faking it is impossible.
"Cloned cards cannot work in INEC reader machine,"
Jega warned.
Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Lawan
Uwais, who chaired the occasion, lauded INEC for its
preparations ahead of the February polls.
In his remarks the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of
Police in charge of Zone One, Muhammad Tambari Yabo,
warned politicians and their supporters to shun violence.
He reiterated the readiness of the police and sister
security agencies to ensure adequate security of lives
and property during the elections.
"We are determined more than ever before to provide a
level playing ground to see that we have free, fair and
credible election in this country where all other
countries in the world will look up to us for exemplary
election process and procedures," Yabo stated.
Courtesy: ereporter news
Broadcast by Obele Calistus