After a test-run of the card reader machine in a mock election in Niger State, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday disclosed that about 42 per cent of eligible voters with Permanent Voter Cards were not cleared.
Only 52 per cent of voters were cleared as authentic in Niger State.
The National Commissioner of INEC, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, while disclosing the figures from the 18 polling units in Gwada ward in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, said a total number of 10,243 persons are registered voters with only a total of 1,799 with Permanent Voter Cards.
According to Iyimoga: “The card reader out of 1,799 eligible voters that turned up, authenticated 1,045 voters with PVCs, leaving 754 unauthenticated.
“With the figures we have, it shows that 58 per cent voters are authentic and 48 per cent are not authentic going by the card reader.”
Iyimoga said the process of demonstration to the public has been smooth except for few hitches with some card readers, which could be due to finger identification.
According to him: “We are trying to find out if it is the technique by the officer or handling of the card reader will pose a problem.
“In some instances, people clean their hands with methylated spirit, which has to do with the level of cleanliness of fingers, because as soon as the fingers are clean, you will be through.”
It was gathered that the card reader kept saying ‘verification failed’ despite thorough cleansing of eligible voters’ fingers with spirit.
However, it was discovered that Anguwan Sani polling unit in Gwada ward (011) has 963 voters, with only 15 PVCs, thereby being disenfranchised.
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