Abuja: Some stakeholders have called for increased efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technological infrastructure to enhance the credibility of future elections. The stakeholders, who are advocates of democracy, made the call at a policy dialogue on ‘Election and Technology: Opportunities and Challenges’.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the dialogue was organised by the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to commemorate June 12. In his remarks, Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, noted that despite the promise of the BVAS and IReV, their implementation had received numerous criticisms. Sulaiman highlighted that during the 2023 general elections, numerous reports of glitches in some polling units were recorded, leading to delays and, in some cases, disenfranchisement of voters.
Sulaiman stressed that while technology holds immense potential to revolutionise electoral processes, more needs to be done to ensure effective, inclusive, and transparent tech-driven elections. He emphasized the importance of convening stakeholders to critically examine the intersection of electoral technology and democratic integrity, especially in light of recent electoral reforms.
Also speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, raised concerns about public skepticism regarding the counting of votes in the overall results. Dantalle suggested that technology could mitigate these concerns by enhancing the credibility of elections. He advocated for innovation in voter mobilisation, education, registration, electronic accreditation, and IReV, highlighting the role of technology in reducing human error and manipulation.
Dantalle further called for the adoption of an electronic voting system in future elections, urging the National Assembly to consider IPAC’s proposal in the ongoing constitution and Electoral Act amendments. He outlined the benefits of such a system, including efficiency, accuracy, accessibility, security, and cost-effectiveness, which would help consolidate democratic governance.
Rep. Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, emphasized the importance of using technology with caution and expertise. He noted that while Nigeria had adopted technology in elections, public trust in the system and its handlers was crucial. Balogun stated that technology must be complemented by accountability for any glitches that may occur.
In a keynote address, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu stressed the need for attention to technology use not only on election day but also in the build-up to the election. He pointed out that while Nigerians demand more technology on election day, earlier processes also need focus to ensure a seamless electoral process.