Former President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged that irregularities in the use of card readers during the 2015 general elections undermined his chances of winning, claiming the technology was inconsistently applied across the country.
In a recent interview, seen by AFRIPOST, Jonathan recounted his experience at his polling station, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deployed card readers for the first time that year.
“At my polling unit, where my wife, my mother, and I usually vote together, the card reader rejected all of us, even me as the sitting president,” he said.
Jonathan described the tense atmosphere across the country at the time, noting that the technology had caused frustration among voters in the South.
“Many were turned away because the card readers failed to work. I could have halted the elections, pointing out the irregularities,” he added.
He further criticised the differential application of voting technology, explaining that in the North, authorities instructed officials to allow voters to cast ballots without accreditation.
Meanwhile, in the South, INEC insisted that card readers be strictly used. “When you compare both regions, it’s clear that something wasn’t right,” Jonathan stated.
Meanwhile, following the interview which has garnered reactions across social media, the revelations have reignited debates among netizens about the fairness and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral processes.