House summons Jega over voters' card distribution

The House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, before its Committee on Electoral Matters within 24 hours to explain the progress of the ongoing Permanent Voters' Cards distribution exercise.

   This followed the concerns expressed via a motion by Yakub Balogun that though the electoral umpire has succeeded in providing Temporary Voters' Cards, which were used and widely accepted for the 2011 general elections, 'the haphazard distribution of Permanent Voters' Cards may lead to disenfranchisement of eligible voters and violate the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).'

   According to him, the concerns became necessary since INEC has directed that Temporary Voters' Cards would not be allowed in subsequent elections, and also directed that all eligible voters must replace their Temporary Voters' Cards with the new Permanent Voters' Cards.

   According to him, available report 'indicated that INEC has not been able to effectively replace all the Temporary Voters' Cards with permanent ones in all the states of the federation' in line with its directive.

   More so, 'it was alleged that eligible voters who had approached INEC for the replacement of their cards were turned back on the account that their individual Permanent Voters' Cards were not ready,' the lawmaker from Lagos State stated, noting that the development was not good enough.