Ambassador James Entwistle

The Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, James Entwistle has commended the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) in the general elections which commenced on Saturday, March 28.

Speaking with journalists at the International Conference Centre, venue of the National Collation Centre of the election results, on Sunday, March 29, the ambassador said that Nigerian PVCs involved superior technology which his state of Virginia in the US needed to copy.

“I am very impressed by the decision of INEC to use technology in this election. The Permanent Voter Cards are very high-tech. They are more high tech than my voter card from the state of Virginia in the US.

“My voter card does not have biometric. It does not have my fingerprint. The high-tech gives the process more integrity. I congratulate INEC on taking the part of High-tech. I think we need to come and study it so that we can use it in my country,” he said.

The ambassador expressed hope that INEC would address the challenges experienced in the use of card readers and move forward.