Jega: No machine can jam smart card readers

Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says no machine can jam the smart card readers, dismissing speculation that the PVCs may not work on election day.

With the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigning against the use of card readers, rumour had been speculating that the party may use some technology to render the machines ineffective and stop their use at the polls.

Jega told Channels TV on Friday: “There is a lot of talk about jammers, but it won’t work on the card readers.”

He also said the PVCs are being produced in Nigeria and not in China as widely speculated.

“The outstanding PVCs are not being produced in China, according to allegations, but in a company here in Nigeria,” he said.

He also disclosed that deadline for PVC collection would be extended for those whose cards had not been produced.

“For someone whose card is produced tomorrow, we will extend PVC collection for them,” he said.

INEC had fixed the deadline for the collection of PVCs for Sunday March 22.

Jega further refuted allegations that the commission was not distributing PVCs to certain states, saying: “It is not true that INEC is not distributing PVCs to certain states.”

Regarding security for the election, he stated that he had been assured by security agencies that there would be adequate security, especially for ad hoc staff who are mostly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“We have done quite a lot and we feel confident and reassured that ad hoc staff are protected during elections,” he said.

And on whether the card readers could be compromised by polling officers, he said: “Polling unit officials have no access to the information on the card readers so it cannot be tampered with.”

Speaking on loitering at polling units during the elections, the INEC boss noted that the Electoral Act states “No loitering within 300 metres of a polling unit.”

“Our guidelines states that if you finish voting and you choose to remain at your polling unit, be orderly, law abiding and peaceful,” he added.

“If you do anything that constitutes loitering, security agents will intervene.”

He said he is “feeling confident” about arrangements put in place to guarantee the security of ad hoc staff for the March 28 and April 11 elections.

A dozen NYSC members, who served as ad hoc staff, were killed in Bauchi during the 2011 elections.