From Raji Bello, Sokoto
The State Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State said the nation’s electoral system has been forfeited against abuse by the political actors through the current biometric system.
Speaking with newsmen in Sokoto, the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Alhaji Hussaini Mahuta noted that the commission has a clean and updated Voters register.
He added that the mechanism was done through an Automated Finger Prints Identification System (AFIS).
The REC explained that this is with the view to conducting free, fair and transparent general elections, as well as in conformity with global best standards.
According to him, the permanent voter card is machine-readable and will be the only card to be used for voter authentication in the 2015 general polls.
Mahuta averred that the bio-metric data content of the permanent voter card of an eligible voter will check the tendency of unscrupulous persons who may want to engage in multiple voting during the forthcoming polls.
In the same vein, the Electoral Commissioner stated that the use of card readers during the forthcoming general elections will allow for 100 percent verification and authentication of eligible voters.
“The Commission has before now enforced security features on sensitive electoral materials like the ballot papers, result sheets and ballot boxes by customizing them to local government and Registration Area levels.
“It is a fact that come 2015, any ballot box snatched will simply be eliminated from the collation equation, among others”, Mahuta, added.
Mahuta further assured that the Commission is determined to make the 2015 epoch-making, just as he solicited the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders in ensuring the success of the polls.
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