Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olabode George has described the use of the card reader for the Presidential and National Assembly elections as a charade.
Speaking with news men shortly after casting his vote at Evans square in Lagos Island, George said the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to experiment the elections with the use of the card reader has failed.
He said “Professor Jega has a long way to go, there problems, the card readers are not working. In some areas, the card readers have not arrived, so there are problems. So, imagine if we have had to vote on February 14, it would have been worst. Let Jega come out clean because this election is so vital to the survival of this country and we are toying with it with an experimentation.
This is a charade. In Badagry, we heard the INEC officials had to go back to pick up the ballot papers while in some places like Ojo and Amuwo Odofin, the officials have not arrived. I have told our people to remain calm and peaceful. But know that no election results will be announced where there are no card readers and ballot papers.”
Besides, he said “this has overwhelmed the people who are managers of this election in Lagos State, you cannot blame them because you cannot give what you don’t have. People are becoming more enlightened because they have realised that their vote is their power and decide who would be their leader.”
When asked if the shaky start will not heat up the polity, he said, “we have asked our people to remain peaceful and law abiding.”
