Card Reader Rejects Jonathan, Wife’s PVCs

President Goodluck Jonathan turned up Saturday to accredit himself and his wife Patience for his re-election bid but problems with new voting technology forced to him to temporarily abandon his plans but was later accredited using old manual system. Jonathan arrived at Ward 13, Unit 39, Otabla in Otuoke, Bayelsa state at about 9:20am to begin the accreditation process. But handheld technology being used for the first time to “read” biometric voter identity cards apparently malfunctioned. While efforts were made to rectify the error, Jonathan was forced to stand around in the scorching heat before leaving. The glitches were later abandoned and the People’s Democratic Party candidate was accredited manually, using the old method. PDP had raised concerns about the technology and election officials’ ability to use it. Jonathan joked about hiccups created by the card reader, saying: “Maybe it’s me?” He called the electorate to be patient in the face of the challenges posed by the new technology: “If I can endure, you see my sweat? I plead with all Nigerians to be patient, no matter the pains we take,” he told reporters outside the polling station. “It’s the first time we are using this technology, PVCs (permanent voter cards), card readers,” he said, adding that he was “not worried”, despite reports of difficulties in other states across the country. Jonathan later returned and was accredited using the old manual system. “Because it’s new, anything new must have its challenges,” he said.