By Omololu Adebayo, Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the Presidential election till Sunday, following reports of logistics problems experienced by voters and electoral officials in some polling centres across the country.
There have been reports of failed Card Readers, faulty Accreditation processes and sundry security issues.
INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, in a statement permitted Manual Accreditation in Polling Centres with difficulties while extending the election in areas where voting did not take place
“Consequently, accreditation has been slow in many places and has not commenced at all in some others,” he stated.
“Even though the guidelines for the 2015 general elections provide that where card readers fail to work and cannot be replaced, elections in such PUs will be postponed to the next day.
“The scale of the challenge we have observed has necessitated a reconsideration of the provision of the guidelines
“The Commission has therefore decided that in PUs where card readers fail to work, the Presiding Officer shall manually accredit voters
“The Presiding Officer shall mark the voters register upon being satisfied that the person presenting PVC is the owner.
“Notwithstanding, in PUs where accreditation was suspended to the next day in accordance with the guidelines, arrangements will be made for voters to vote tomorrow, subject to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010
“The Commission reassures the public that it will thoroughly investigate what happened while it stays committed to credible elections,” it added.
