By Obike Ukoh
Since the emergence of Nigeria as a sovereign nation, conducting free, fair and credible elections, appeared to be a mission impossible.
The first post election, after the country gained her independent on October 1, 1960 was a nightmare.
The 1964/65 general elections, was chaotic due to widespread boycotts, intimidation and violence.
The elections were marred by allegations of electoral manipulation and clashes between political parties, leading to postponements in some area until March 1965.
The controversial nature of the elections contributed to the political instability, that led to the demise of the First Republic.
Analysts and commentators regret that, with this chequered history, is unfortunate that Nigeria has not learnt anything from the inglorious electoral history of yester years, as electoral fraud and manipulation still manifest and pervasive in its elections. Though there had been electoral reforms, but nothing had changed, as electoral fraud, snatching of ballot boxes, vote-buying and intimidation continued.
However, the issue on how to enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s elections had re-echoed, with prominent politicians voicing their support for electronic voting as a way out of the imbroglio. That suggestion for electronic voting had always been made, but no concrete commitment had been made to actualize it.
On the recent push for the country to embrace electronic voting, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, stressed the need for a shift toward electronic voting.
Kalu, representing Abia North, said the adoption of electronic voting in Nigeria, would enhance electoral transparency and reduce disputes.
Speaking during plenary, Kalu emphasized the need to align Nigeria’s electoral system with global technological trends.
“Technology is where everybody is going now; we should move fast to embrace all these technologies, as we’re voting, people should report back, and we should have electronic voting so that nobody will complain,” Kalu stated.
Kalu argued that such a system would minimize complaints about electoral irregularities and boost public confidence.
He highlighted the global shift toward technology-driven solutions, urging Nigeria to act swiftly to keep pace.
“The world is moving to seamless systems. We cannot afford to lag behind when technology can make our elections fairer and faster,” he said.
Kalu’s advocacy aligns with growing calls from stakeholders for electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
The senator also stressed the importance of real-time reporting during elections to ensure accountability.
“With technology, voters and observers can report back instantly, making the process open and trustworthy,” he added.
Kalu’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment among reform advocates, that embracing technology is key to strengthening democracy in the country.
Even before now, critical stakeholders like, Uzor Kalu, had made case for electronic voting.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, after losing the 2019 Presidential Election, made a case for electronic voting, stressing that Nigeria must embrace it to sustain its democratic values.
He urged the National Assembly to take a look at what happened in the 2019 elections and modify the nation’s laws to prevent a repeat in the 2023 elections
He said if democracy must endure, the democratic process must be developed in a way people would have confidence in the electoral process.
The former president called for establishment of independent security agencies that will provide security during elections.
He said: “The African Union must come up with a code of conduct for security operatives that participate in elections.”
The late Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, was also one of the advocates of electronic voting.
He said adoption of electronic voting, would help to eliminate errors caused by human factor in compiling election results.
Onu spoke when he paid a facility visit to the Electronic Development Institute (ELDI) in Awka, Anambra State.
“I am confident that when Nigeria reforms her electoral system by adopting e-voting, malpractices, fraud, and less credible results would be a thing of the past, and more Nigerians will be willing to participate further in the electoral process,” the late minister said.
He explained that with the level of innovative work done at the ELDI, Nigeria would no longer need to import electronic products from abroad, but rather produce them in the country to meet local demand.
On the production of e-voting machines, Onu said the ministry and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had teamed up to build them with encouraging results.
On his part, Executive Director, Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity, Umar Yakubu, equated Nigeria’s electoral system to an expensive carnival, draining public resources with little to show for it.
He maintained his 2018 argument, about saving a staggering ₦240 billion by digitising our elections.
“ One of my points, steeped in the economic principle of opportunity cost, was a reminder that every naira spent on printing ballot papers and hiring a massive ad-hoc workforce is a naira not invested in education, healthcare, or critical infrastructure.
“Electronic voting isn’t merely a technological upgrade, it is a fundamental shift towards fiscal responsibility that Nigeria can no longer afford to delay.
“The financial hemorrhaging, associated with manual elections goes beyond the official budget. It includes the hidden costs of managing widespread logistical chaos, the security apparatus required to protect vulnerable materials, and the legal fees from endless post-election litigations.
“An electronic system, with its leaner, more efficient design, would drastically cut these expenses, freeing up billions to be channeled, hopefully, into meaningful national development.
“ This is not just about saving money; it is about redirecting national wealth from a flawed process to projects that directly improve the lives of citizens,’’ Yakubu stressed.
He also listed other advantages of adopting electronic voting.
“Beyond the numbers, the most compelling argument for electronic voting lies in its potential to transform the political culture and compel leaders to perform.
“The current system, with its vulnerabilities to fraud, from ballot box stuffing to outright vote-buying, has created an environment in which electoral victory is often determined, not by a leader’s merit, but by his ability to outmanoeuvre opponents through illicit means.
“ In this context, the mandate to govern can feel less like a public trust and more like a stolen prize. And this is the primary driver for the scale of desperation and corruption by the current political class.
“An electronic voting system, based on biometric data already captured through national identity databases like the BVN, NIMC, and PVC, would significantly reduce these avenues for fraud.
“By making the voting process more transparent and secure, it would make it much harder for politicians to manipulate results.
“Most importantly, when a leader knows his victory is a clear reflection of the people’s will, his primary focus would shift from maintaining a corrupt electoral machine to actually delivering on his campaign promises.
On the likely challenges to electronic voting, he suggested that the same technology that facilitates seamless financial transactions across Nigeria, should be adapted for a secure voting platform.
“ By partnering with telecommunication providers and establishing dedicated voting centres in remote areas, we can ensure broad access for all citizens.
“The push for electronic voting is more than just a call for modernisation; it’s a strategic move to save a democracy in peril.
“It would not only save Nigeria from the financial burden of its `electoral jamborees’ but, more importantly, it would force a long-overdue cultural shift among the political class,’’ Yakubu emphasized.
With the issue of electronic voting re-echoing, let’s hope serious commitment would be shown since all critical stakeholders are aware of the importance of embracing electronic voting.
