Card reader accepts Jonathan on first attempt

Far from the drama that played out at the March 28 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan has been accredited on his first attempt by the card reader of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Jonathan’s accreditation went on smoothly at Ward 13, Polling Unit 39 in Otuoke, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa state.

Two weeks ago, the president was rejected by four different voter card readers. After trying the fourth card reader without luck, he left the polling booth, saying he was sure the problem would be sorted out.

Muhammadu Buhari, his main challenger and eventual winner of the election, was smoothly accredited at his polling unit in Katsina state.

Attahiru Jega, chairman of INEC, subsequently apologised to the president for the “national embarrassment”, saying the voter card error may have occurred due to possible damage to the card.

“What happened in the case of Mr. President is regrettable and a national embarrassment,” Jega said.

“We have apologised for what happened. It is possible his card was damaged.”