Nigeria’s 2015 general election is less than 45 days away and while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to say it is fully prepared for the elections, many Nigerians are yet to see how the card readers the commission intends to use in the voting process work.

It is the first time that the commission will be using card readers for elections and a source of worry for Mr Adeola Soetan of the Democracy Vanguard is the fact that there has been no simulation of how the card reader works.

Moving from manual process to infusing technology in voting process is a milestone that requires high efficiency and that is the fears that Mr Soetan expressed on Wednesday, while giving his opinion on INEC’s preparedness for the 2015 general elections.

“There is need for a simulation. We do not want to witness the crises of bad election as seen in different countries here in Nigeria.

“So far, we have seen that INEC’s preparations are below average.

“You judge by what is happening now and not what has happened before.

“INEC has continued to say they would use card readers for the elections. We have not seen the card readers and the INEC has not shown or demonstrated how the card readers are to be used up till now,” he said, expressing worries that Nigerians may not know how these cards work.

If there is any election that Nigeria must conduct well, it is the 2015 general elections and the INEC has continued to reassure Nigerians of its commitment to ensuring that they get a a free, fair and credible election.

Stakeholders have continued to also prepare in their various capacities and Mr Soetan said the readiness of Nigerians for the elections gives hope of a remarkable election.

“I think our duty really is to assist in what …read more