The United States Vice President, Joe Biden, has thrown his weight behind the proposed use by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of card readers for authenticating Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs in the upcoming general elections in Nigeria.
Biden expressed his nation’s official position on the issue via a telephone conversation with President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday according to a statement issued on Thursday by the United States embassy in Nigeria.
“The Vice President further expressed the United States’ support for the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute Permanent Voter Cards and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational,” the Mission’s statement read.
Biden also spoke on Thursday with the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari.
He commended President Jonathan and Buhari for signing the Abuja Accord in mid-January to express commitment to non-violence throughout the election process.
The US Vice-President however expressed concern about violent incidents that have trailed election-related events and urged both candidates to make clear that such violence has no place in democratic elections.