Posted by NDIDI OKAFOR, Abuja on
OPPOSITION kicked off by northern delegates to the national Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) against the use of electronic voting machine in elections in Nigeria thickened yesterday as the Emir of Kazaue (Jigawa State), Alhaji Hassan Adamu publicly rejected it.
OPPOSITION kicked off by northern delegates to the national Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) against the use of electronic voting machine in elections in Nigeria thickened yesterday as the Emir of Kazaue (Jigawa State), Alhaji Hassan Adamu publicly rejected it.
The Emir, who is also a delegate, insisted that electronic voting machines should not be used as the country was not mature for it.
He lampooned delegates who had supported the use of electronic voting and said: "ask them if they can use their mobile phones effectively or turn on their television sets?"
The royal father who alluded to the low level of literacy in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country, argued that the system will be manipulated and will not "stop rigging" as being canvassed.
He said the system was open to manipulation as the software can be used to rig elections in favour of a given political party.
Agreeing with him another northern delegate, Ibrahim Shema, also said: "I don't support electronic voting machine."
In another development, Mrs Tawa Williams called on the conference to ensure that the dredging of the River Niger is prioritised as it facilities development and eases the problem of transportation.