The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Nigeria has insisted on the use of card reader for next month’s general elections, warning the Independent National Electoral Commission against further shift of the polls dates.
The opposition party made its position known at a meeting of the party leaders held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, the national leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, warned the Federal Government against further shift in the election dates, saying the “party will resist such a move”.
Senator Tinubu told party leaders at the meeting to constitute themselves into groups of vigilantes that would defend the peoples votes at all levels.
The meeting of the APC leaders was the first of its kind since campaigns began for the 2015 general elections.
The national chairman of the party, Mr John Oyegun, criticised the military for their alleged role in the postponement of the election.
One after the other, the governors of Kano, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Borno, Kashim Shettima and Edo, Adams Oshiomhole States spoke on the need for change.
The national leader of the party was tough on the ruling party, as he insisted on the use of card readers for the general elections.
General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the party also addressed the meeting, stressing the need for the party to pursue change.
The Director General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council and the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, assured chieftains of the party that the APC would coast to victory, come march 28.
The INEC had insisted that it would use the Permanent Voter Cards and the card readers in the general elections, but only 75.9 per cent of the cards have been collected as at tuesday. A total of 68.8 million registered while only 52, 233, 396 have been collected.
The electoral body is optimistic it would distribute at least 85 per cent of the cards.