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”, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dialogue was organised by National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to commemorate June 12.
In his remarks, Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, said that despite the promise of the BVAS and IReV, their implementation had received numerous criticisms.
Sulaiman said that during the 2023 general elections, numerous reports of glitches in some polling units were recorded, adding that this led to delays and, in some cases, disenfranchisement of voters.
“While technology holds immense potential to revolutionise our electoral processes, more is to be done to ensure effective, inclusive and transparent tech-driven elections.
“As Nigeria navigates a critical period of electoral reforms, we believe it is imperative to convene stakeholders to critically examine the intersection of electoral technology and democratic integrity.
“This is view a view to putting into cognisance the deployment of election technologies at the 2023 general election and the electoral outcome,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, said that many Nigerians assumed that their votes would not be counted in the overall results.
Dantalle said that those with such opinions preferred to stay at home instead of dissipating their energy participating in elections with predetermined outcomes at a time justice was for sale in the court.
“This is where technology comes in. We are in a technological era; the need for innovation in the conduct of credible elections cannot be over-emphasised.
“From voter mobilisation, voter education, voter registration, electronic accreditation and IReV, technology will continue to play a pivotal role in the electoral process as obtainable in advanced democracies.
“This will drastically reduce the human factor errors and manipulations that impede the nation’s democratic journey.
“Improved technology will bolster public trust in the process and uphold the sanctity of the ballot box to safeguard popular choices.
“This is what June 12 symbolises – a credible election. Nigerians yearn for free and fair polls for sustainable democracy and development,” he said.
According to him, IPAC demands the adoption of electronic voting system in future elections and urges the National Assembly to consider its proposal on this in the ongoing constitution and Electoral Act amendments.
Dantalle listed the merits of these to include: efficiency, accuracy, accessibility, security and cost-effectiveness, saying that they would go a long way in consolidating constitutional rule and democratic governance.
“We must be ready to surmount all challenges in the quest for a strong, virile, united, prosperous, equitable and just society.
“This dialogue affords us yet another opportunity to assess, evaluate and appraise the role of technology in advancing the nation’s democracy, ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.
The Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Rep. Adebayo Balogun (APC-Lagos), said the stressed the importance of the use of technology, adding, however, that it must be used with caution and expertise.
Balogun said though Nigeria had adopted technology in the conduct of elections, there was the need for Nigerians to have trust in the system and in the handlers of election.
He noted that technology would not work in isolation and that people must also take responsibility and be punished for glitches.
In his keynote address, a don, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, said that attention should not be placed only on use of technology on election day but in the build-up to the election as well.
Ibeanu said that Nigerians had continued to demand more use of technology on election day without paying much attention to the earlier processes. (NAN)
