The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked INEC to extend the time for accreditation and voting to make up for the delay being experienced across the country by the use of card readers.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said extending the time for accreditation and voting will ensure that Nigerians who have queued up patiently at their polling units as early as 8 am will not be disenfranchised.
Mohammed also urged INEC to recognise the letters from the various political party agents, since INEC was not able to fulfil its promise to accredit party agents, an exercise formally done by the parties themselves.
He also commended Nigerians for their patience in getting accredited, saying by waiting patiently to get accredited, they have shown an unprecedented commitment to the growth of democracy in the country.
Mohammed said: “From the reports received from field agents, it is clear that the card reader, as a tool to enhance the credibility of elections in the country, has so far proved effective, despite the delays.
“The card reader is a novel tool in our elections and naturally there will be some initial hiccups. We understand that the delays were due to the failure to remove the protective films on the lenses of many card readers, the poor network of some of the sim cards in the card readers and the effect of jamming devices on the card readers.”
He warned against the resort to manual accreditation in some parts of the country, where the card readers are being bypassed, saying it is against the electoral guidelines.
“People must continue to be patient until the card reader works,” Mohammed said.
