By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi—Political stakeholders in Bauchi State have expressed worry over the viability of the card-reader machines introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, against the backdrop that most of machines used for same purpose during the continuous voters registration exercise were faulty.

They lamented that the faulty machines prevented many electorates from registering, thereby denying them the privilege of voting in the forthcoming election.

This was even as INEC has cautioned against the selling or buying of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, saying that those found guilty of the electoral offence would fined N500, 000 or face imprisonment of two years if convicted.

The state INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Umenger made this known Tuesday while interacting with stakeholders in Danbam Local Government Area of the state, in continuation of the commission’s familiarization tour of the 20 local government areas in the state.

According to Umenger, selling or buying of PVCs was a criminal offence, contrary to Section 23 of the Electoral Act as amended.

However, the stakeholders which cut across the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state made their feelings known yesterday in Zaki Local Government Area during an interactive session with INEC officials who were on a familiarization and sensitization tour.

Most of the stakeholders raised alarm about the viability of the card-readers as well as their inability to collect their PVCs; non-registration of IDPs.