Card Reader Hitches Mar Accreditation Of President Jonathan, First Lady

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)