Strong indication has emerged, showing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may have changed the particular finger for thumb printing during the 2019 Presidential election from Thumb to Index finger voting.
Though there had been counter reactions by INEC that anybody is free to use any finger, but made it clear that due to the small nature of the voting space due multiplicity of parties fielding presidential candidates , Index finger can perform most perfectly amongst other fingers including the thumb.
Many experts, who barred their minds on the latest voting regulation just few days to the general election, saw it as a way of discouraging voters even though the idea came because of multiple contestants especially in the presidential election.
It was also said that any vote with the thumb finger is void due to chances that ink marks may spread to border line to invalidate the ballot.
Nigerians are already expressing anger on why such a critical regulation is coming very close to the election when INEC is aware that majority of Nigerian voters are not well educated.
They also argue that the lateness of the regulation points to the fact that contrary to acclaimed readiness of the agency, much is still left to be desired.
However, some smart political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have come up with virtual expressions of how to vote with the Index finger without hassles on election day as part of voter education which should have been done and driven by INEC.
