Politicians, ICT experts threat to credible elections – Edo REC

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Following an alleged arrest of seven persons on Thursday at New Benin market in Benin City, Edo State, for allegedly purchasing Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) from market women, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, raised the alarm that politicians were in collaboration with ICT experts to sabotage the efforts of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conducting a credible election.

Igini who said the unscrupulous politicians were alleged to be buying PVCs from market women, also alleged that they were planning to sabotage the Commission’s effort through the cloning of PVCs with a view to rig the forthcoming polls.

“Yes, l received actionable intelligent information from some individuals that at the New Benin Market, some unscrupulous individuals were collecting PVCs from market women in exchange for money after making photocopy of these PVCs. The police acted swiftly that led to their arrest and are now under-going interrogation.

“It is unfortunate that this is the kind of information we receive daily across the country of either act of ware-housing of PVC, people allegedly denied of their PVC on grounds of being non-indigene, perceived political persuasion, snatching of PVC, selling or buying of PVC and so on.

“Many ICT 419 so-called professional who should use their knowledge of ICT for positive use for the good of our country are currently on the loose telling politicians how they would break into INEC system through some unworkable and very dubious ICT solutions that they are selling to them.

“These educated ICT dubious solution providers are the ones also behind the wicked mis-information that the Card Reader would not work and that their electoral fate would be better off if we revert to the old ways. Frankly, l’m amazed at the extent to which a few educated so-called ICT professionals could go to sabotage a collective national efforts under INEC through the use of PVC and Card Readers to give meaning and purpose to the ballot system in a democracy,” Igini said.

The Edo REC said there will be consequences for those arrested after the on-going interrogation. He however added that the INEC “will not lament because the book of lamentation was not written because of us. We shall proceed against these individuals because what is going on in the country in one negative form or the other is unacceptable and must stop.”