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PROF. MAURICE IWU SPEAKS ON THE ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM!

The chairman of the INEC, Prof Maurice Iwu has restated that the introduction of the Electronic Voting System (EVS) into the country’s electoral process was to remove all elements of subjectivity that had bedevilled the voting method in the past 73 years of voting experience in Nigeria adding that the introduction of EVS would ensure the principle of one man, one vote.

Prof. Iwu gave this explanation at the launching of the River State Chapter of the Stakeholders Forum at Bodo city of Gokama local government area of Rivers State.

The INEC chairman noted that INEC had taken a critical study of Nigeria’s electoral system and resolved that the time has come when the country’s electoral process should be returned to the people for their effective contribution and participation hence the introduction of the Stakeholders Election Forum where people would contribute to the electoral process. He added that the forum would be established in all the States and local government areas of the country.

Prof. Iwu further explained that in the critical study of Nigeria election system, the commission has discovered that the same pattern of voting has existed since 73 years ago and this has led to rigging of elections, manipulation of election results and vandalization of ballot boxes during elections. The INEC boss said that the commission was now poised to remove these fundamental problems in the country’s election management by the introduction of Electronic Voting System (EVS) that is simple to operate, guarantees one man, one vote, disallows ghost voters and ensures quick and uninterrupted simultaneous transmission of election results to the centre. He added that electronic voting system is simple and does not require any academic qualification to operate adding that all a voter needed to do was just to walk to the voting centre and press the button of the political party of his choice which can not be done more than once by the voter.

Prof. Iwu therefore called for the understanding of all critics of the EVS adding that INEC had vowed to provide credible and transparent elections and would stand by the vow taken.