Politics - 1 hour ago

Who Is Holding Back Electronic Voting in Nigeria: APC,ADC, or INEC?

Nigeria has the technology, the population, and the demand for a democratic system that works. Yet, every election cycle, Nigerians face the same problems ballot snatching, result manipulation, voter suppression, and violence at polling units. Electronic voting could address these issues. So, why hasn’t it been implemented? More importantly, who is resisting the change?

The answer isn’t straightforward, but it’s clear. When you dig deeper into the resistance to full electronic voting in Nigeria, you find a pattern of political self-interest cutting across party lines and a hesitant Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This combination has left Nigerian voters feeling shortchanged.

What Electronic Voting Could Mean for Nigeria

Before we pinpoint who’s resisting, it’s important to understand what electronic voting means for Nigeria. It’s not just one technology; it’s a range of systems. At its most basic, it includes biometric voter accreditation, something Nigeria already partially uses with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). At its most advanced, it involves directly transmitting results from polling units to a central server, cutting out human middlemen who are often the root of electoral fraud.

The 2022 Electoral Act, signed by President Buhari, made electronic transmission of results legal for the first time in Nigeria. INEC began deploying the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), allowing real-time result uploads. This was the closest Nigeria has come to a truly transparent election process. However, the 2023 general elections showed that these systems were used inconsistently, and legal challenges took advantage of technical gaps that the electronic records should have solved.

The Current State of Electronic Voting in Nigeria

Key Facts:

Indicator	Status (2024)
Legal framework for e-transmission	Established under Electoral Act 2022
BVAS (biometric accreditation) deployment	Deployed in 2023 elections, mixed results
IReV portal (real-time result upload)	Launched but inconsistently used in 2023
Full end-to-end electronic voting (casting ballots)	Not yet implemented
Registered voters (2023)	Approximately 93.5 million
Voter turnout (2023 presidential election)	26.72% — one of the lowest in Nigeria’s history
Election petitions filed after 2023 elections	Hundreds across federal and state levels

The 26.72% voter turnout in 2023 is one of the most damning data points in this entire debate. Millions of Nigerians no longer believe their votes count. Properly implemented electronic voting could fix that.

What Happened in 2023 That Exposed the Resistance

The 2023 presidential election was the biggest test of Nigeria’s electronic electoral system and it failed. INEC promised to upload polling unit results to IReV in real time. Civil society groups trained thousands of observers to monitor this process. Millions of Nigerians, many voting for the first time, eagerly watched their phones, expecting transparency.

Instead, there were widespread delays in uploading results, reports of BVAS malfunctions at polling units, and significant discrepancies between what observers recorded and what appeared in official results. This led to a crisis of legitimacy that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the Supreme Court couldn’t fully resolve. While the courts upheld the results, a massive credibility gap was left behind.

The 2023 election didn’t prove that electronic voting doesn’t work. It revealed that powerful political interests actively worked to undermine the electronic systems when they produced inconvenient data.

The APC’s Complicated Relationship with Electoral Transparency

The All Progressives Congress (APC) was in power from 2015 to 2023 and oversaw the passage of the 2022 Electoral Act, which, on paper, advanced electronic voting significantly. However, the APC’s record shows a party that supports electronic voting in theory but resists its full implementation when it threatens their position.

During the debates that led to the 2022 Electoral Act, APC lawmakers pushed back against mandatory electronic result transmission. Several attempts to make it compulsory were blocked. At the state level, APC governors in competitive elections lobbied against stricter electronic protocols before governorship elections. In essence, the APC embraces electronic voting when it can control the system, but resists it when they don’t.

Case Study: Osun State 2022 Governorship Election

The Osun State governorship election in July 2022 provides a clear example of how electronic systems can help but also face resistance. INEC deployed BVAS for accreditation and committed to IReV uploads, while civil society groups monitored the process in real time.

When the PDP’s Ademola Adeleke won, the APC immediately challenged the results. The legal battle exposed inconsistencies between BVAS data and official results. The Osun Election Petition Tribunal initially nullified Adeleke’s victory, citing irregularities, but the Appeal Court later reversed the decision.

This case demonstrated that electronic systems provide a much harder-to-manipulate record. However, determined political actors found ways to challenge the credibility of those systems in court.

INEC: Are They Just Hesitant or Is Someone Pulling the Strings?

INEC plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s electoral process. As the body responsible for implementing and overseeing voting technology, INEC’s actions are central to whether electronic voting moves forward or not. Since 2015, INEC has talked about the importance of electronic voting but has failed to fully implement it.

INEC chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu often cites funding issues, infrastructure problems, and the lack of a comprehensive legal framework as reasons for the slow rollout. While these are real challenges, critics argue that INEC’s pace of reform is slow and political pressures prevent the full deployment of the technology.

INEC receives funding from the federal government, and its chairman is appointed by the president. These factors create dependencies that limit INEC’s independence and ability to push for significant reforms.

What Full Electronic Voting Would Change

Full end-to-end electronic voting would eliminate many common forms of electoral fraud in Nigeria. It would prevent result manipulation at collation centers by transmitting results directly from polling units to a public server. Voter fraud, such as underage voting, multiple voting, and ghost registrations, would become nearly impossible if biometric accreditation is enforced consistently.

Countries like Estonia and Brazil have successfully implemented electronic voting, reporting faster and more transparent results. Nigeria can learn from these examples and implement similar solutions that could drastically improve the integrity of elections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Has Nigeria used electronic voting?
Nigeria has implemented partial electronic systems, such as BVAS for voter accreditation and IReV for result uploads. However, full electronic voting has not yet been implemented.
Which party benefits most from blocking electronic voting in Nigeria?
The party in power at the state level benefits most from resisting full electronic transparency. Both APC and PDP have obstructed reform when it threatened their hold on power.
What is BVAS, and how does it work?
BVAS is a device used for biometric voter accreditation, using both fingerprint and facial recognition. It captures polling unit results and uploads them to IReV.
Can Nigeria implement full electronic voting despite infrastructure challenges?
Yes, challenges exist but can be overcome. Solutions, like offline-capable devices that upload data once connectivity is restored, exist and can be applied.
What role does civil society play in pushing for electronic voting?
Civil society organizations, such as Yiaga Africa, play a critical role in advocating for transparency and holding INEC and political parties accountable.

Conclusion: The Fear Isn’t Technology, It’s Power

Nigeria doesn’t have an electronic voting problem. It has a political will problem. The technology is available, the legal framework is in place, and the public supports it. What stands in the way of transparent elections is the political class from the APC to the PDP, and even embedded within INEC who fear losing their ability to control election outcomes.

The 26.72% voter turnout in 2023 is not apathy; it’s the result of millions of Nigerians who have lost faith in the system. Full electronic voting, with full transparency and institutional independence, offers the best chance of restoring that faith.

BREAKING: Tinubu Picks Up 2027 APC Presidential Nomination Forms

The lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, has officially picked up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, signaling the start of his 2027 presidential re-election campaign.

On Tuesday in Abuja, APC’s National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, opened the process and handed over the forms to Faleke, who is also the founder of the Tinubu Support Groups. This formal move, with a payment of N100 million for the forms, solidifies the President’s intent to seek a second term in office.

The timing aligns with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) setting the official date for the 2027 elections, which are scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 16, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and Saturday, February 6, 2027, for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Faleke’s action marks the beginning of a broader political journey for President Tinubu as he aims for another term to navigate Nigeria’s complex challenges. As political activity ramps up, the preparations for party primaries and campaign timelines have already been set.

INEC’s Electoral Timetable and Campaign Launch

INEC has confirmed that party primaries, along with the resolution of related disputes, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026. Presidential and National Assembly campaigns will officially begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will start on September 9, 2026.

The unfolding electoral process has set the stage for Nigeria’s next phase of political engagement, with Tinubu’s nomination marking an important milestone for the APC and the nation’s political future. With election preparations underway, the battle for the country’s leadership in 2027 is already gaining momentum.

FAQs

Q1: What does Faleke’s collection of the nomination forms mean for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid?

Faleke’s action formally signals Tinubu’s intention to seek re-election in 2027. The collection of the APC nomination forms, along with the payment, is a key step in the political process and marks the start of his re-election campaign.

Q2: When will the 2027 Nigerian elections take place?

The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly elections will be held on February 6, 2027.

Q3: When will campaigns for the 2027 elections begin?

Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will start on August 19, 2026, and campaigns for the governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.

Q4: What is the role of INEC in the 2027 elections?

INEC is responsible for overseeing the election process, including managing the timeline for party primaries, resolving related disputes, and ensuring a smooth transition from campaigning to voting. They also set the final election dates and regulate the electoral system.