Plans by INEC to use voter card reader is illegal – PDP

Plans by INEC to use voter card reader is illegal – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, said plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use card reader during the forthcoming general elections was illegal.

PDP also faulted the adoption of Re-modified Open Ballot System (REMOBS) as another act of illegality being perpetrated by INEC, as it also contravenes the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Director of Legal Affairs of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, made the observation in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The former Minister of Justice in a statement, issued expressed the disdain of the PDP campaign organisation to a suit instituted against President Goodluck Jonathan, seeking to stop him from taking part in the February 14 election, on the basis of eligibility.

He said the constitution does not allow electronic voting and that the voting pattern, according to the constitution, must be open ballot system and not the Re-modified Open Ballot System as being canvassed by INEC.

“INEC is being forced and tricked into violating the law by doing electronic voting using the card reader,” the PDP chieftain asserted.

“This is in violation of Section 52 of the Electoral Act. Even the contraption called “REMOBS” (Re-modified Open Ballot System) is a radical violation of the open secret ballot as stipulated in Section 52(1) of the Electoral Act and is, therefore, illegal,” he said.

Speaking on the suit seeking to stop Jonathan from taking part in the election, Kayode described the suit as a political game being played for the umpteenth time, affirming the readiness of the PDP to tackle the suit in court, saying the case is a flagrant and desperate abuse of court process.

The plaintiffs, which include Tunde Samuel, Junaid Mohammed, Razak Adeosun and Yahaya Ezemoo, are pleading with the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the President from taking part in the election, as they challenged his eligibility for the contest.

They are asking the court to restrain him from “contesting, putting himself forward and or accepting to contest for the office of president, Federal Republic of Nigeria.