Source: Sahara Reporters
Malfunction of
some of the card readers led to the initial rejection of the voter cards of the
President Jonathan and his wife.
 |
| First Lady: Patience Jonathan |
President Goodluck Jonathan and his
wife, Patience Jonathan, spent more than thirty minutes at their polling
station in Otuoke, Bayelsa State as several card readers malfunctioned and
could not accredit them this morning.
Our correspondent reported that the accreditation of
the president and his wife was marred by malfunction of some of the card
readers, leading to the initial rejection of the voter’s cards of the President
Jonathan and his wife.
As the ad-hoc staff hired by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) and deployed to the president's Otuabula
ward 13 struggled with the equipment to accredit Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan, the
card reader cleared the president’s mother, Mrs. Eunice Jonathan, and his aide
de camp.
Another correspondent also reported that the card
reader cleared Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State in his hometown of
Toru-Orua in Sagbama local government area at 9.30 a.m. (Nigerian time).
President Jonathan waited patiently at the polling
unit for 40 minutes after arriving for accreditation at 9.15 a.m. He then left
the venue and headed back to his Yenagoa residence.
Speaking with reporters, he described the
malfunction of the card reader as a “technical itch” and called on eligible
voters to remain calm. “There may be itches no doubt, but you should know that
this is the first time we are using the card readers and permanent voters
card,” Mr. Jonathan said.
President Jonathan also disclosed that he had had a
telephone conversation with the chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, on the
noticeable itches across the country. He said even if there was a problem with
his own card, as long as the process was going on well across the country, “it
is okay. Definitely, they will sort out my own. I can't be a ghost voter.
Everybody knows me.”
He said he was not worried over his inability to do
accreditation, describing the delay as normal. “My interest is the conduct of
credible and fair elections. We are totally committed and I believe no matter
the itches, the election will be smooth,” he said.
The president also stated that he had received
reports that voting in some units in some states, including Jigawa and Delta,
had been postponed by INEC due to non-availability of polling material.
“It will affect the conduct of the House of
Representatives elections. In my own polling units, some voters’ cards [were]
going through the card reader but my voter card and that of my wife [had] some
problems. If I can endure patiently, sweating, I urge Nigerians to be patient
with the process. No matter the pains you take, as a nation, we can conduct
free and fair elections that will be accepted worldwide,” Mr. Jonathan said.
He called on Nigerians to realize that the world was
interested in the outcome of the elections, adding that world leaders,
including United States President Barack Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron of
the UK, and several African leaders, including those of South Africa, Botswana,
and Sierra Leone have called on Nigerians to do good elections. “That is what
we should think [about] with the temporary things and pains we may go through.
The whole world is interested in the conduct of the elections. It is a
sacrifice worth taking.”
When News Breaks
Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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