The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is ready to explore additional technological help in the conduct of the upcoming Kogi and Bayelsa elections.
This is even as the newly sworn in Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu said elections will no longer be won and lost at the INEC headquarters.
Fielding questions from journalists at the Presidential Villa after taking his oath of office, Monday, Yakubu said the card reader has come to stay and the commission would explore other technological means of ensuring free and fair elections.
He said as far as INEC is concerned the Kogi and Bayelsa elections which comes up at the end of this month and in December respectively will be conducted as a routine matter as nothing has changed.
“The goal post is not going to shift, Nigerians will know that the elections will be credible as the 2015 general elections were adjourned as credible. The card reader will be deployed and the PVC will also be deployed and thereafter, if there is any value technology can add, we are going to also explore,” he said adding “the card readers come to stay. In fact if there is any value that technology is going to add in addition to the card readers, we will happily explore it”.
The new chairman said the commission will build on the universal accolades recorded in the 2015 general election, he is not doing on board with anything new, just yet.
Yakubu took his oath of office alongside five new national commissioners for the electoral body. They are: Amina Zakari, northwest; Anthonia Okoosi-Simbine, north central and Baba Shettima Arfo, northeast; Soyebi Adedeji Solomon, southwest and Mohammed Mustafa Lecky from the South-South.
The swearing in was witnessed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, amongst other top government functionaries .
Elizabeth Archibong
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