THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ogun State has kicked against the use of card reader machines in the March 28 and April 11 elections.
It said that the rescheduled elections with ‘attendant fear and anxiety’ would not give room for any experimentation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi, said on Wednesday, while addressing newsmen at the party’s headquarters in Abeokuta, that the machines, according to observations of some electoral observers, would waste a lot of time during the election.
Sowunmi also stated that the machines, according to the observers, were prone to breakdown.
He said, “In view of the observation of thousands of electoral observers that the proposed use of Card Reader Machines will be time-wasting and that the machines are prone to breakdown due to their untested nature and possible power failure, APGA joins the millions of people opposed to the device in calling for its rejection.
“INEC should, therefore, shelve the use of the card reader machines till 2019 elections.”
The party also lamented the problem associated with the distribution of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), accusing INEC of not showing enough commitment and seriousness towards the exercise.
It also noted that the party’s supporters had been marginalised in the distribution of the PVCs, saying such portends great threat to peace during the election.
The party also threatened to take legal action against INEC, if the electoral body failed to address the issue of alleged marginalisation.
“As at now, reports reaching our South-West secretariat show that only about 10 per cent of our members have succeeded in collecting their PVCs. APGA wishes to warn that unless this situation is urgently addressed, the party may be forced to take legal actions in pursuit of justice,” the party added.
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