President Buhari denies opposition parties' allegations of neglecting the use of card reader towards the 2019 general elections

President Buhari has hereby denied the allegations of the opposition parties and news papers editorial opinions creating the impression that he (Buhari) is against the use of card readers in the upcoming elections.

Hence his decision to decline the assent, for the third time, to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018.

Buhari said"he wishes to state in clear and unambiguous terms that the issue of e-voting and use of card readers was never an issue for the President's decision to assent to the Bill.

"It is also equally important that this issue was not raised either by Executive or Legislature in the recent review. Moreover, the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) adoption of e-voting reforms is enshrined in the 2015 Amendment Act to the Electoral Reform Act.

"The card reader is therefore a settled matter. The President's recent decision to decline assent to the Bill has no effect whatsoever on INEC use of card readers.

"Regrettably, purveyors of fake news have been quick to churn out sensational headlines such as that of a leading newspaper, which screamed: card reader  in jeopardy, Buhari rejects Electoral Act Amendment Bill again."

"An issue has been raised by the President concerning she ill-prepared and flawed parts of the Bill for which corrections needed to be made to allow for his signature.

"I wanted an engagement with the Parliament for the correction to be effected , so that, at the end of the day , both arms of Government will be happy with the fact we have a good Electoral law in place.

"Am not in confrontation with the Parliament on this issue, I have asked my officials to dialogue with the Legislature for the corrections to be effected.

"I am a number one fan of card reader. For a candidate who ran for three and lost in an Electoral environment to which votes were allocated and losers asked to go to court if they felt unhappy. I know fully well that the role that the card reader played in his emergence in 2015.

"I said times without number that I would strengthen and widen its application in the country and this, I am determined to do.

"Accordingly, I would like to appeal, especially to the media to disregard baseless allegations against me, even as I put in my best efforts in working with the National Assembly to give the nation an good Electoral law,and in time.

"The card reader is not in danger of being discarded. It is a Sin qua non for credible elections.

"Finally President said"I appeal to the National Assembly, House of Senate to reconvene as soon as possible to consider and approve the necessary corrections to the ammended Electoral Act."