The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; National Assembly and Civil Society Organisations have expressed different opinions on the desirability of e-voting in Nigeria.
The stakeholders shared their views at a Roundtable organised by Yiaga Africa in Abuja to assess the deployment of technology in Nigerian elections, election administration, integrity, and citizen’s participation.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mohammed Kuna, said the deployment of technology in elections was inevitable. He added that all electoral management bodies have raised issues to confront these questions, because they are critical questions that may make or mare the deployment of technology.
On his part, the President of Nigeria Computer Society Adesina Sodiya said Nigeria is ripe for e-voting. He noted that the country in progressing in the right direction from Card Reader to BVAS, adding that introducing technology in the electoral process would address current challenges in the electoral system.
However, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ajibola Basiru disagreed with the idea of electronic voting. He also argued that even the country’s mobile networks, although not the same as electoral technologies, were ineffective and could not cover many places, especially the rural areas. On his part, the Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Gbenga Sesan, said INEC should test its electronic devices to detect and rectify areas of concern before the 2023 general election. He added that it was also important for INEC to test the system by inviting hackers to push it to extra limit, to know its capability and strength