The National chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and senatorial candidate for Anambra central senatorial zone, Chief Victor Umeh has said that his party is throwing its weight behind the use of card readers for the forthcoming general elections.

Umeh made the statement in an interview with Journalists yesterday in Awka, saying that the use of card reader would prevent rigging of election as only accredited voters that pass through the card reader can be recorded on the INEC system.

According to Umeh, those advocating for the non use of the card reader were planning to rig the election as their intention is to write the results outside the number of votes cast.

He said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Mr. Edwin Nwatarali, has assured that each card reader can last up to 14 hours before shutting down if fully charged.

“The use of card reader is a sure way of fighting election rigging, especially when it is known that some politicians prefer to use a system that would make it possible for them to write results that would favour them as they had done in the past.

“APGA is in support of free, fair and credible election and the use of card reader can guarantee free and fair election, which is why we are supporting it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nwatarali has allayed fears of any possible breakdown of the machine, adding that card readers would be charged over night before the day of the election.

He further explained that over 80 percent of the card readers have been configured, while the remaining ones would be configured before the commencement of the polls.

He hoped that with the awareness already created, owners of outstanding PVCs would collect them within the next two weeks.

•Photo shows Umeh

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