Politics
Group Causions On Technology Application In Elections
Youth Initiatives for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), a civil society organisation has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to tread slowly on technology application in electoral process.
The Executive Director of the group, Mr Samson Itodo, in a document released in Abuja, said because of its “limitations and vulnerability” technology could not guarantee credible elections.
According to Itodo, by all standards, elections are complex and capital-intensive because electoral operations, procurement, staff training and remuneration and public outreach gulp huge amounts of the election budget.
He said that the poor state of public infrastructure, including roads, institutions, energy, environment and ICT penetration, contributed to high electoral costs.
Itodo said though a plausible argument, high cost of elections in Africa was the consequence for undemocratic and flawed elections recorded on the continent.
“Simply put, countries are spending more on elections due to low level of electoral integrity hence the reliance on technology to eliminate all forms of electoral heist and irregularity.
“It is common practice for election management bodies in Africa to leverage on technology for voter registration, voter identification or accreditation, electronic tallying and transmission of results.”
He said that different election stakeholders such as companies, civil society groups, politicians and development partners, subject electoral commissions in Africa to intense pressure to deploy new technologies for elections.
The director said that most of the commissions yielded to these pressures without undertaking a cost-benefit analysis on the deployment of electoral technologies or its potency to guarantee credible elections.
According to him, in this era of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence, it is foolhardy to ignore adaptation of relevant technologies and digitized electoral processes.
He said that unarguably, technology deployed for elections could eliminate human errors associated with calculating and computing of results, improve voter identification, facilitate faster and easier voting, but could lack integrity.
“Although electoral technology can enhance and undermine electoral integrity, electoral commissions must be conscious of its limitations and vulnerabilities that can also undermine it.
“The debate on whether electoral technology can guarantee electoral integrity is premised on the limitations of technology deployment in Africa.
“Experience shows that electoral technology is vulnerable to failure, interference, and security breaches.
“Recent reports of cyber propaganda, warfare and election interference strengthen the argument that electoral technology can potentially de-legitimise elections.”
Itodo pointed out that without checks and oversight, heads of ICT departments in electoral commissions could become kingmakers by subverting the will of the people through a ‘click’ resulting to computer-generated leaders.
He said that there were growing apprehension and suspicion with the deployment of technology in electoral processes in Africa, adding that most people did not trust electoral technology due to its limitations.
He said that in Kenya, Raila Odinga alleged system logs on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), suggesting possible infiltration of the commission’s electronic system of tallying of results.
Itodo added that the then opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) was similarly accused of hacking into the system of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to alter election results.
He, however, advised electoral commissions to secure public consent and approval in their quest to deploy technology for elections, saying that it would boost citizens’ trust in the process thereby deepening electoral integrity.
Accordingg to the statement, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF, noted with very grave concern the recent spate of political developments in Rivers State.
“Regrettably, these developments have now degenerated into the decision of the Rivers State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the governor and deputy governor.
“This is a deeply disturbing situation that demands urgent attention in order to forestall further escalation and breakdown of law and order.
“This concern is heightened by the critical importance and strategic centrality of Rivers to the Niger Delta region and to the broader socio-political stability and economic wellbeing of Nigeria as a whole”, the statement said.
The Forum called on all parties involved in the resurgent political imbroglio to sheathe their swords and embrace peace.
“This should be guided by the principles of give-and-take, dialogue, tolerance, and political equanimity.
“All stakeholders must place paramount importance on peace, development and the welfare of the people of Rivers.
“We must now focus squarely on good governance and development of the state,” the Forum said.
PANDEF commended President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), respected elders of Rivers State, and other well-meaning Nigerians for their previous and ongoing efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the state.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, January 10, Chief Sara-Igbe alleged that the minister had flouted regulations governing the commencement of electioneering campaigns by moving from one local government area to another to galvanise political support.
According to him, the action amounted to a clear breach of electoral guidelines being carried out with a troubling sense of impunity that could undermine the rule of law.
“Wike has violated the electoral laws of campaigning by going from local government to local government to talk to the people. He travelled from one local government to another. As a result of his visits to local government areas, he has broken election regulations and continues to do all these things without fear of repercussions”, Chief Sara-Igbe said.
The remarks came as Chief Wike was set to round off a state-wide “thank-you” tour that covered all 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Although the minister had described the tour as an appreciation visit following support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general elections, critics say the engagements have assumed an overtly political character.
Observers note that during several stops, including recent visits to Andoni and Bonny local government areas, the minister rallied supporters across party lines under what he termed a “Rainbow Coalition,” a move widely interpreted as part of a broader political strategy.
During these engagements, Chief Wike was also reported to have made remarks perceived as a veiled challenge to the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while repeatedly referencing the 2027 elections and urging supporters to prepare to “correct the mistake” of 2023.
Chief Sara-Igbe warned that allowing such activities to continue unchecked could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and called on relevant authorities to enforce existing laws without fear or favour.
The Commission, in a statement on Wednesday, claimed that there were plans by the same group to escalate a smear campaign against its Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to frustrate ongoing investigations and prosecutions involving prominent individuals.
The statement endorsed by the agency’s spokesman, Mr Dele Oyewale, claimed that the action was intended to distract the Commission through unfounded allegations of political bias in the discharge of its duties.
The EFCC warned that it would not stand by and watch “those recruited into this ignoble enterprise” or allow any attempt to derail it from “the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.”
The Commission made it clear that those recruited into this venture were under close watch, adding that it would not tolerate any attempt to distract it from the patriotic task of improving public accountability in Nigeria.
“The EFCC reiterates its non-political stance in all its activities. Facts on the ground clearly show that any political actor belonging to the ruling party or opposition party, with corruption baggage, has no hiding place from the operational radar and dynamics of the Commission.
“As a matter of fact, several strong members of the ruling and opposition parties are either facing trial before the courts or being investigated by the Commission.
“It is needful that Nigerians appreciate the fact that the Commission is keeping faith with its Establishment Act in all its operations.
“Therefore, the Commission reiterates its commitment to justice, without fear or favour, in the fulfilment of its mandate,” the statement pointed out.
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