Elections: INEC set for public enlightenment on smart card readers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said that it would next week begin public enlightenment on the use of smart card readers.

An INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Akinola Salau, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Salua, who is in charge of Osun, Ondo and Lagos states, spoke to NAN during a visit to Lagos State Office of INEC, in preparation for the general elections.

The commissioner said that INEC was making efforts to see that voters were properly educated on the use and value of the smart card readers.

``Hopefully, by next week, the resident electoral commissioner will make every effort to see that mass education is held on what the card reader is, its use and the value,’’ he told NAN.

On the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), he said that efforts were being made to ensure that all registered voters would receive their PVCs in time.

The commissioner appealed to eligible voters to avail themselves of the opportunity of the extension of PVCs distribution period to collect theirs.

``I plead that they should go and collect their PVCs; INEC will produce the cards; we cannot force you or come to your home to say you should go and collect them.

``I plead that everybody should make an effort to collect his or her PVC so that he or she can duly vote on the election days,’’ he said.

NAN reports that INEC had on Feb. 9 extended the deadline for PVCs collection to March 8, following the postponement of the general elections.

The elections earlier scheduled for Feb. 14 and Feb. 28 were rescheduled for March 28 and April 11.