By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin 

The Independent National Election Commission, INEC, has alleged that there are efforts by politicians to connive with computer experts to sabotage the forthcoming elections.

The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, raised the alarm in Benin following the arrest of seven people involved in buying Permanent Voter Card, PVCs, from market women, possibly to clone them and thus rig the election.

“I received actionable intelligence from some individuals that at the New Benin Market, some unscrupulous individuals were collecting PVCs from market women in exchange for money after making photocopy of these PVCs. The police acted swiftly that led to their arrest and are now under-going interrogation,’ Igini said.

The Edo State INEC chief said it is regrettable that people with such computer knowledge would put their knowledge to wrong use rather than advancing the country, while blaming them for the misinformation making the rounds about the card reader’s unsuitability for the election.

“Many ICT 419 so-called professional, who should use their knowledge of ICT for positive use for the good of our country, are currently on the loose telling politicians how they would break into INEC system through some unworkable and very dubious ICT solutions that they are selling to them,” Igini stated.
“These educated ICT dubious solution providers are the ones also behind the wicked misinformation that the card reader would not work and that their electoral fate would be better off if we revert to the old ways,’ Igini said, adding that INEC will not be deterred in its effort to conduct a credible election.

“We shall proceed against these individuals because what is going on in the country in one negative form or the other is unacceptable and must stop,” stated.