Kaduna State to Use E-voting Machines For LG Poll

By Amos Tauna, Kaduna

Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (SECOM) is set to use e-voting machines for the conduct of the local government poll in the state.
According to the SECOM Chairman, Dr. Saratu Binta Audu, the date for the conduct of the local government election was yet to be fix, saying that arraignment were yet to be completed, including the purchase of the e-voting machines.
Binta said SIECOM would continue with the sensitization programmes and wouldl release the date as soon as arrangements were completed.
The SIECOM boss, who was responding to a question during an interactive session at a town-hall sensitization drive organized for stakeholders at the secretariat of Jaba Local Government Area said it would not be to the best interest of the public to hurriedly fix a date that might be changed.
A stakeholder had asked the commission if it had a framework of its programmes, including the conduct of the local government elections in the state. Binta explained that the Commission was in the process of purchasing electronic voting machines (EVM) and other equipments needed to guarantee credible election.
“SIECOM would not want a situation that a date for local government is fixed only to be changed for lack of adequate electoral materials,” Binta said.
She, however, expressed satisfaction with the interest shown by stakeholders concerning the election, describing it as heart-warming.
SIECOM commissioner in charge of zone three B, Professor Andrew A. Nkom, told the people that democracy was people-oriented and urged political parties to produce acceptable contestants to enhance their victory.
The chairman, Interim Management Committee, Jaba local government, Mr Ben Kure, appreciated the commission for the sensitization programme and advised people to take advantage of the lessons learned in the past to improve on the electoral process.