Against the backdrop of the recent announced postponement dates of Nigerian's General Election by Independent Electoral Commission(INEC) around uncertain security realities on ground political actors have seized the moment to bear their mind.
One of such political actors who at Asaba, Delta State Capital City, spoke to news-men was the Delta State Labour Party Guber Flag-bearer, Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru.
Chief Ogboru's concern was about the nation striking a functional balance between INEC'S claimed preparedness to conduct credible election in the face of National Security Adviser's internal security gaps.
Gentlemen of the press, you will recall that recently the electoral umpire told the nation about their preparedness to conduct credible election, which was countered by the National Security report that the elections be postponed.
My concern here is, if INEC is ready to conduct free and fair elections amidst these security challenges, why has the INEC's procured card readers not subjected to a test run, Chief Ogboru queried.
We as a nation must demand that these card readers be tested, so as to determine how powerful it is, to be sure of its effectiveness and capacity of data retention.
There is great need for an election situation simulation by a pilot test of the card reader, it is never enough for the umpires(INEC) to do an office simulation with few card readers and conclude that they are ready to conduct a credible, free and fair election, Chief Ogboru reasoned.
Chief Great Ogboru shared some insight into how he thinks the simulation can be best conducted.
In my own opinion, I think an election situation simulation can be conducted say in 2 or more Local Government Areas, with actual voters coming out to putting the card readers to proper near real situation test, Chief Ogboru said.
Chief Ogboru prophesied the possible gains and calamities the nation stand to face should the card reader be subjected to simulation or not.
I am sure that with a well conducted local council based simulation, the confidence of voters in the electoral process will be assured, also the test run will give both the commission and other stakeholders opportunity to identify gaps and collectively seek solution.
But if no test run is conducted on the Card Readers before election day and on election day proper, these card readers malfunction, you can imagine the confusion, troubles and crisis, we as a nation may stand to face, Chief Ogboru warned.
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