Opinion I How Safe Are The Card Readers?

By Fred Nwaozor


Nigerians woke up in the early hours of Saturday, 16th February 2019 to shockingly learn that conducting the Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections billed for that very day was no longer feasible, hence was outrightly postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to a fresh day, precisely on 23rd February 2019.
We are not unaware that prior to the unannounced decision taken by the INEC led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, virtually every sensitive material cum gadget had already been distributed to the various localities across the federation where they are meant to be used for the scheduled polls.
At the moment, concerned, discerning and patriotic Nigerians are baffled over the safety of these sensitive materials to be used for the national ritual, knowing full well that they deserve tremendous technical and physical security watch at this trial period.
The INEC can currently boast of the use of Electronic Card Reader otherwise known as ‘Smart card reader’ during elections in Nigeria. Since the inception of the INEC in the Nigeria’s political terrain, the leadership of the institution had been working assiduously toward ensuring that the country could boast of free, fair and credible elections. This may be the reason the former Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega thought it wise to initiate the said device prior to the last general elections, which has been in use till date.
Though Prof. Jega may have succeeded in coming up with a novel idea by introducing the aforementioned gadget, it’s worth noting that the current boss of the body, Prof. Yakubu has an enormous task ahead of him towards ensuring that the laudable invention wouldn’t end up being a curse in disguise.
It’s not anymore news that the ongoing use of the device in question has been bedeviled by several shortcomings to include malfunctioning, inadequate power supply and what have you. The INEC, inaugurated in 1998, has since inception encountered too many controversies and predicaments in the run up to elections in the country, most notably the April 2007 and 2015 general elections respectively. The ongoing challenges faced by the use of card readers seem to have added to the numerous plights of the commission.
A Smart card reader is an electronic device that reads smart cards such as the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and Voter’s card, as the case may be. There are so many forms of smart card readers used for different purposes. In the banking industry, we have smart card readers that read the ATM cards. But here, we’re concerned about the electoral smart card reader. The electoral smart card reader is a portable electronic voter authentication gadget, configured to read only the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) issued by the INEC.
The device, which displays the authentic information of the prospective voter via the use of fingerprint, was designed specifically for the accreditation process or authentication of eligible voters before voting. The machine is usually configured or programmed to only read the PVCs of a particular polling unit as well as work only on election day(s). The card reader has obviously helped in confirming the eligibility of the prospective voters. It has equally assisted in checking excesses as regards double/multiple registration.
Among all, it enables the electoral exercise to be carried out faster since it can accredit as many intending voters as possible within a shortest interval; suffice it to say that it saves time. In addition, it enables the officials of the INEC to conduct the election easily or at ease unlike the manual system whereby the personnel would be required to put in or exhaust all their energies, thereby creating room for effectiveness and efficiency.
This implies that, if properly utilized, it warrants the electoral umpire to engage fewer individuals or ad-hoc staff for any impending election thereby saving reasonable funds. Hence, the card reader isn’t just labour effective, but equally cost effective.
Although the benefits inherent in the use of the smart card reader cannot be overemphasized, it’s worthy to acknowledge that the challenges that accompany it cannot be overlooked if truly we are concerned about embracing a society that can wholly boast of credible polls.
It’s not anymore news that, while in use, the card reader has reportedly malfunctioned in various quarters across the Nigerian State ever since it came into existence in the country, thereby making the INEC officials in charge of the concerned polling units to resort to manual voting.
To this end, there’s need for creation of a special technically-inclined unit within the INEC quarters. Such unit/department to be manned by an expert must contain all it takes as regards servicing or sustenance of the said gadget. The unit would go a long way to eradicate ‘fire brigade’ approach, which isn’t unusual in the Nigerian society.
It would as well help to create a mobile technical committee that would monitor the functionality of the card readers throughout any election as well as ensure that the various polling units involved are well equipped with the needed materials including electricity supply gadgets prior to the election.
There would also be need for the unit to be more concerned about providing special electronic chargers or charging devices at the various voting centres so that the card readers wouldn’t need to depend on power supply as long as the voting lasts.
Above all, there is need for the device to be manufactured in the country henceforth. There are capable hands that can actualize it; all the government needs to do is to empower them via the proposed technical unit.
We can’t continue to import what we can produce, especially at this moment we are concerned about diversification. I therefore call on INEC to embrace the fullness of technology so that the awaited society would be embraced soonest.
Most importantly, as these card readers are already sent to various locations across Nigeria, there’s compelling need for the management of the electoral umpire to ensure their adequate safety before they would eventually be used on the rescheduled date being February 23, 2019.
It’s on this premise I urge the INEC to ensure that each of the sensitive materials such the ballot papers and card readers are sent to the branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the respective states where they are currently domiciled.
Similarly, since the gadgets have equally been configured against the original date for the Presidential cum NASS election, apt and well experienced hands ought to be involved in re-configuring them towards ensuring that lapses aren’t created in the process. Nigerians need nothing less than safe card readers for credible and peaceful polls as expected come February 23 and March 9, 2019, respectively.
So, as we ‘scold’ the INEC for coming up with this untimely but apt postponement, it shouldn’t be reminded that it’s expected to do everything humanly possible to guarantee this required safety. Think about it!

Analysis I Averting Technical Hitches At The Polls

By Fred Doc Nwaozor



Before now, we used to say “the elections are by the corner”. But at the moment, I can boldly assert that the polls in question are already here.

The elections are truly here with us, because in just less than seventy-two hours time, Nigerians in their number would be trooping into their various polling booths to cast their votes for whosoever they would like to see as the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come May 29, 2019 as well as who to represent their respective constituencies in the both chambers of the National Assembly (NASS).

Every sane and discerning Nigerian, domiciled either at home and abroad, wouldn’t hesitate to publicly say that he/she desires for something not less than free, fair, credible and peaceful polls come February 16 and March 2, 2019, respectively.

As we variously clamour or canvass for well transparent and worthwhile polls that would stand the test of time, the electoral umpire –otherwise known as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – is expected to take into cognizance some key inevitable factors as regards the anticipated credibility of the elections.

As today’s world has become conspicuously tech-driven and acknowledging that the current Nigeria’s political processes and activities are powered by various technologies, the INEC must ensure that the needful are done towards averting both usual and unusual technical hitches at the polls during the two separately scheduled national rituals.

It’s now obvious that the Card Reader is relatively the engine room of the voting process in the Nigeria’s electoral terrain. Against this backdrop, the INEC presently led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is required to do everything humanly possible with a view to ensuring that the said electronic device functioned effectively and efficiently as expected by all concerned.

Survey indicates that the use of the card reader has in recent times proven to be one of the main avenues to witness an election free from all forms of pranks and malpractices. This is the reason every right thinking person who means well for the country he belongs dispassionately advocates for its unending use in the country’s electoral activity.

Since inception in the electoral process of the acclaimed giant of Africa, the card reader has hitherto been faced by myriad of technical challenges that ordinarily ought to have been avoided if some pertinent factors were keenly considered by the concerned authorities.

It’s on this premise I deeply urge the INEC to implement various outstanding measures that would guarantee hitch-free elections as regards the expected deployment of a few tech-driven gadgets at the long awaited polls.

As I have earlier strongly advocated for a separate special unit for the continual usage and maintenance of the electronic equipment and allied sensitive materials, I still maintain my stance. Such a unit would ensure that apt and timely attention is granted to the use of the devices.

It would equally ensure that only qualified and experienced personnel are in charge of the regular deployment of the instruments. Believe it or not, the truth remains that it would only take well tested tech experts to ensure a reliable and credible use of the ‘almighty’ card reader.

Then, at the various polling units across the federation where the machines would be duly deployed for the electorate to get in touch with them, acknowledging that nowhere in Nigeria could currently boast of uninterruptible power supply, there’s a compelling need for the unit or department in charge of the functionality of the equipment to make adequate provisions for alternative electricity source as long as each of the exercises lasts.

The only known alternative means of electrification in this part of the world, particularly Nigeria, is the power generating set. Hence, the aforementioned gadget must be made available at each of the polling booths where votes would be cast by the teeming voters domiciled in the recognized political wards nationwide.

Similarly, sufficient Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, must equally be made available. Insufficient provision of this very material or substance would go a long way in jeopardizing the overall anticipation of the electorate and the accredited observers.

Even though the card readers may have been fully charged prior to the D-day, there’s a tendency that in the long run the boosted cells would discharge, thereby making the batteries in need of further charging or boost at the polls. This is the sole reason we cannot avoid providing electricity at the booths.

It would be ideal to also inform us that the INEC cannot handle this part of the national consignment without involving some other relevant stakeholders. In view of this assertion, the various community leaders cum traditional rulers need to be duly engaged or contracted to assist the electoral umpire. It would be the duty of these stakeholders to ensure that the needed power generators are provided at their respective jurisdictions.

I want to warn decisively that such a task shouldn’t be carried out by any political party or contestant, or even a party ally, to avert any sort of partisanship by the INEC ad-hoc officials posted to the polling units. Allowing any vote seeker, either individual or group, to assist the conduct of the elections in any way would definitely create room for derailment or loophole among the electoral personnel. So, the INEC must be extra careful and extremely guided in respect of this.

Inter alia, the card readers need to be thoroughly tested and retested to really guarantee adequacy when they are eventually being used at the polls. Same measure ought to be employed in the case of the vehicular tracking devices to be used by the electoral umpire.

Since the INEC, having earlier declared to deploy electronic collation pattern, has reportedly made a u-turn in order not to violate the extant Electoral Act, it’s then conspicuous that the major tech-driven approach to be utilized in the process is the use of the electronic card reader and tracking devices.

The INEC, therefore, needn’t be reminded that the anticipated credibility of the awaited polls lies mainly on the adequacy of the two tech security instruments, hence the urgent need to ensure their accuracy before the D-day. Think about it!


Comrade Nwaozor, tech expert, policy analyst & rights activist,
is the National Coordinator of Right Thinkers Movement
___________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador

Analysis I It's Time To Make Another Choice

By Fred Nwaozor



The last time I checked, May 29 annually remained a very remarkable and memorable day in the political history of the acclaimed giant of Africa.

The aforementioned day remains a moment every sane and rational individual or entity domiciled in the country wouldn’t like to miss, because it refreshes the mindset of the good memories of the past.

It’s, however, noteworthy that the interregnum in question can never come to past if elections aren’t aptly conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It’s only through such national ritual, the overall people can duly elect who to be sworn in by the country’s Chief Judge, particularly in the case of the Presidency.

It’s equally worth noting that the elections that would herald yet another transition or interregnum in the Nigeria’s leadership sphere are to be held in just ninety-six hours from now, precisely on Saturday, 16th February 2019, as scheduled by the INEC who has the sole statutory right to conduct the awaited polls as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

As Nigerians in their number swiftly and impatiently ride to the D-day towards making another choice, it’s understandable that a choice can only be made when options are readily available.

Hence, the electorate are meant to choose among many who they believe could effectively and efficiently govern the Nigerian State for the next dispensation. It ought to be extremely noted that this can only be done when they are aware of how best to differentiate the chaff from the grain.

This phenomenon is synonymous with those days while in the school when we usually find ourselves in the examination hall and were presented with an ‘Objective’ question paper where each of us was separately expected to make a choice among the given options for the entire numbers ranging from one to fifty or thereabouts.

Aside institutional exams, virtually on a daily basis, we are all faced with life examination whereby we would be required to decisively make a choice among the available options nature often brings in our day-to-day activity in a particular field of endeavour.

It suffices to assert that making a choice is invariably expected of us from time-to-time wherever we may individually find ourselves. In other words, it’s not solely in the political sphere or during electioneering era we are meant to choose between two or more things or persons, as might be the case.

Since we are already well experienced concerning choice making and what it entirely entails, no sane individual ought to be referred to as a novice whenever such a term is mentioned or being debated. This is the reason we are all seen as experts in any event that concerns elections.

In view of the above facts, as we are all variously prepared to make another choice at the polls in a matter of few hours, we do not need anyone to tutor us on the severe consequences that await any person or group that makes a wrong choice in life irrespective of his/its status.

One pertinent and key factor to consider when making any choice is the essence of doing so. We must fully take into cognizance the core reason we are making the choice. So, in summary, you can’t make a choice without telling yourself what you stand to gain from the choice to make among the provided options.

The truth of the matter is that, it pays to make a good and sound choice. One who made an apt choice will surely live to enjoy its dividend. Just like someone who intends to settle down, if he/she ends up making a wrong choice in choosing a life partner, they would definitely live to regret it the rest of their lives. This is why proper thinking is needed when it calls for choice making.

The teeming Nigerians – both home and abroad – are conspicuously here and ready once again to make another choice with a view to choosing who would be in charge of the country’s helm of affairs for the coming four years.

It’s boldly enshrined in the Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, as amended, that only those who have attained the age of eighteen are eligible to vote or be voted for. This implies that only Nigerians from 18 and above are constitutionally allowed to make this long awaited choice. This is so, to enable only those who are mature in mind and otherwise to participate in such a national ritual.

Hence, since only adults are permitted to be involved in this choice making, it’s presumed that they already know what they really want. These recognized participants or choice makers, therefore, are required to conduct themselves in such a manner that the outcome of the exercise would be unanimously applauded by all and sundry. They mustn’t display any habit or attitude that’s detrimental to the country’s wellbeing.

Most importantly, as this choice is being made, we are urged to have the interest of the country at heart. Thus, the country’s desire ought to be allowed to override our individual wishes. This would enable us to make a choice that could stand the test of time.

So, as it’s obviously time to collectively make another choice, Nigerians are enjoined to do so with a true sense of maturity, so that, they won’t live to regret it. Think about it!

Comrade Nwaozor, National Coordinator of
Right Thinkers Movement, writes via
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056