Jonathan: INEC ‘must review’ use of card readers

After falling victim of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) card readers on two different election days, former president, Goodluck Jonathan, has expressed concerns over the use of the device.

Addressing journalists in Otuoke after being accredited for the Bayelsa state governorship election, Jonathan advised the electoral body to review the concepts of card reader and permanent voter cards (PVCs) before the 2019 general election.

Just like it did in the presidential election, the card reader failed to read Jonathan’s biometrics on Saturday.

“I am quite worried about the PVC and card reader,” he said.

“From my experience today, INEC must review this issue of card reader and PVC very well before we go into the 2019 election, because even during the presidential election, the machine rejected me and my wife.

“Today, because they changed my own, they changed my wife’s own, it was successful. But about five people who came with me, including my mother, my elder sister and a former commissioner in Bayelsa state, were unsuccessful. These are known people, so they cannot carry fake or cloned cards. They are known senior people from this state. So, out of five of us, only me and my wife were accredited.

“The percentage of failure is high and I am a bit uncomfortable. But being an isolated state election, they should be able to handle it because they have enough of the incident forms. So, they will all vote. But I will advise that before we go into the 2019 election, the whole concept of the card reader and the technology must be properly reviewed.”

Jonathan also advised the people to be orderly, advising whoever emerges victorious to “carry everyone along”.

He also urged INEC to ensure that the exercise goes smoothly.

“Transparent and credible elections are the hallmark of democracy. When elections are not credible and peaceful, then we elect leaders that cannot give account of their stewardship,” he said.

“The votes of the citizens must count. So, I am advising all my people from Bayelsa state to be calm, the young people must be calm to ensure that we have a peaceful and credible election.”

However, a mild drama ensued when wife of the former president interrupted him while he was making inquiries.

“What is happening? The failure rate is very high,” Jonathan observed and his wife said, “Yes o. 80 per cent.”

Looking towards her direction, Jonathan’s facial expression changed. On noticing his countenance, the former first lady distracted herself by calling an aide to fill the incident form on behalf of her mother in-law.