PROPOSAL

ON

E-VOTING SYSTEM: A PANACEA FOR A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN

NIGERIA, 2015-2023

1.1 Background of the study

Information communication Technology (ICT) refers to the use of computer software and

hardware to process data and information for both private and public use. In today’s globalised

world, ICT has taken the centre stage as nothing can be effectively organised and executed with

greater success without its use and one of such areas of human endeavour that the ICT has been

applied is the conduction of electoral process that is common to any democratic settings

(Ejikemejombo, 2015). Democracy as noted by Ayo, Adebiyi and Sofoluwe (2008) is the most

popular system of government all over the world and in any democratic system of government;

election plays a very crucial role in the sanctity and integrity of the electoral processes. Electoral

processes in a democratic election include the followings: registration of accredited voters, casting

of votes, tallying, and collation of results as well as pronouncement of election results (Ayo et al.,

2008). Thus, voting is a critical component of any election and involves the processes of electing

leaders or representatives into positions of authority in a democratic system of government.

According to Duruji, Charles, Oni and Aderonke (2015) the process of electing leaders in

most developing countries of the world like Nigeria is usually marred with multiple irregularities

such as falsification of results, identity theft, stolen of ballot boxes, multiple voting problems,

double voting, over voting, and electoral fraud just to mention a few. Ayo et al (2008) also noted

that election in Nigeria is conducted manually usually characterised with bloodletting, falsification

of results, stolen of ballot boxes, over-voting, rigging and disenfranchisement of voters among

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others anomalies associated with conduct of election in Nigeria (Ayo et al., 2008). Thus, in their

opinion, the engagement of electronic voting in Nigeria would result to a huge reduction of costs

normally expended on printing of ballot papers, transportation of election materials and other

logistics that would have been saved and use to care for other needs of Nigerians. Besides, research

reveals that the usage of ICT in the conduct of elections, which is referred to as electronic voting

or simply e-voting has eliminated the incidents of multiple registrations, which had been one of

the main political tools for rigging elections by unscrupulous and savage elements (Ejikemejombo,

2015).

Electronic voting is voting that uses electronic means to either aid or take care of casting

and counting ballots. Depending on the particular implementation, e-voting may use standalone

electronic voting machines (also called EVM) or computers connected to the Internet (online

voting). It may encompass a range of internet services, from basic transmission of tabulated results

to full-function online voting through common connectable household devices. The degree of

automation may be limited to marking a paper ballot, or may be a comprehensive system of vote

input, vote recording, data encryption and transmission to servers, and consolidation and tabulation

of election results. However, a worthy e-voting system must perform most of these tasks while

complying with a set of standards established by regulatory bodies such as the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC), and must also be capable to deal successfully with strong

requirements associated with security, accuracy, integrity, swiftness, privacy, auditability,

accessibility, cost-effectiveness, scalability and ecological sustainability (Zissis and Lekkas,

2011).

The shortcomings of manual processes of conducting election in Nigeria has evolve a

usable electronic voting system that can be used to conduct election in Nigeria and provide a

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convenient platform for both INEC and the electorate in conducting useful and credible election

that will guarantee the confidence and credibility of the electoral processes and also show the true

reflection of the wishes of the people. The use of electronic voting system in conducting elections

in Nigeria will go a long way in addressing a lot of problems plaguing the conduct of elections in

the country (Duruji et al., 2015).

1.2 Statement of Research Problem

Elections in Nigeria (federal, state or local government area elections) cover a wide area

of geographical land mass. This area of land is inhabited by people with different living

environments and with a varying degree of literacy and educational level among the electorates.

These people of course have different access to technology (Ayeni and Esan, 2018). In the same

vein, Chiba (2021) noted that elections in Nigeria have almost always been dogged by allegations

of rigging, vote-buying and ballot box snatching amongst a myriad of issues that have bedevilled

the electioneering process since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Between 1999 and 2021, there

have been at least six national elections and there is hardly one that is entirely devoid of allegations

of rigging. For the discerning, this immediately creates question marks about the integrity

Nigeria’s electioneering process.

Buttressing the concern of Ayeni and Esan (2018) as regards Nigerians access to

technology, Unwuchola, Adinlewa and Udeh (2017) noted that the emergence of information and

communication technologies (ICTs) which in turn gave birth to e-voting and also all social

networking sites had thus brought another paradigm shift in electioneering process in Nigeria.

Hence, it is appropriate to categorise electorates based on their access to ICT and voting electronic

technologies. E-voting in which physical supervision is carried out by Election Monitoring Bodies

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(EMBs) or representative of government is a situation in which the electronic voting devices are

located at the polling units and this requires internet services that is still a problem in some parts

Nigeria because data/information are shared or transferred in real time with any network.

Ogidan, Adekola, Emmanuel and Okogun (2017) noted that since the use of electronic

technology in election management has been adopted in Nigerian electoral process, it is expected

of the electorates to be able to recognise and identify the e-voting devices and their functions.

These e-voting devices must be made available by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC)

at the various registration centres and/or polling units depending on the level of online voting

providing internet services for connectable household devices and remote locations. It is presently

limited to e-voting in which there is physical supervision by INEC representatives. That is e-voting

systems are located at the various polling stations in the area where elections is held.

In short, the problem of free and fair elections has lingered so long partly due to the greed

of the ruling class to perpetuate themselves in power and the indulgence of the citizens in accepting

gratification for votes. The notion of electronic voting is not an entirely new development in the

Nigerian political space but for some strange reasons, it has always hit a snag as the political class

always seems to distrust the process. This is probably why Umonbong (2006); AlJa’am, Alkhelaifi,

Al-Khinji and Al-Sayrafi (2009) and ACE Electoral Knowledge Network (2011) noted that the

adoption of e-voting technology by developing democratic countries is not only expected to

prevent, but also eliminate problems of ballot stuffing, ballot snatching, votes and voters records

manipulations, among others thus, bringing about free and fair election. This study thus examines

whether the adoption of e-voting system in Nigeria will serve as a panacea for a free and fair

election.

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1.3 Aims and Objectives of the Study

The general aim of this study is to examine e-voting system as a panacea to the achievement

of free and fair election in Nigeria. Specifically, the study is meant to:

i. To ascertain whether the voters in Nigeria understand the dynamics of e-voting.

ii. To investigate whether introduction of e-voting can ensure credible voting process in

Nigeria.

iii. To ascertain advantages of e-voting over traditional paper voting system.\

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study;

i. Do voters in Nigeria understand the dynamics of e-voting?

ii. Will adoption of e-voting ensure credible elections in Nigeria?

iii. What informs the preference of e-voting over traditional paper voting system?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The concept of electronic-voting is relatively new in practice among developing

democracies like Nigeria. It is an offshoot of the Information and Computer Technology (ICT)

revolution that heralded the beginning of the twenty-first centuries. The justification for this study

lies in its ascertained and proven benefit to voters with disability and those that live and work

abroad in particular and democracy in general through the introduction of relative transparency in

democratic politics.

The study will also sensitise the Nigerian electoral umpire, the INEC on the urgent need to

consider improving the conduct of elections in Nigeria through the adoption of electronic voting.

Nigeria and indeed many democracies do have difficulties in collation and counting of votes cast.

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It is at this stage of election that worst and unsettling electoral frauds are committed. Adoption of

e-voting will definitely reduce the degree of frauds at this level of election exercise.

Besides, the study will be a springboard for Nigerians to begin to ask for true and equal

representation and participation for every qualified voter irrespective of physical condition and

location as at the time of election. Furthermore, since e-democracy or e-voting is a recent jargon

in the literature of political science, the study will make academic input to the body of literature as

well as serve as applied research which will facilitate strategic policy action for development.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study covers and is limited to examining e-voting system as a panacea to the

achievement of free and fair election in Nigeria with special reference to the actual influence it has

on political behaviour either positive or negative and the factors determining the behaviour and

attitudes of ordinary Nigerians.

1.7 Definition of Terms

Biometric Technology: This is capturing voters’ bio data through a machine as it enhances

the polling environment and makes the electoral commission more

robust and efficient.

Direct Data Capture Machine: A computer system for capturing and storing voters'

information such as scanner for taking fingerprints of

registrants; camera for taking pictures, backup batteries to

forestall power failure, external hard disk drive for data

backup and printer for printing temporary voters card.

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Electronic Registration: This is the registration of voters electronically. It is essential to pilot

the electronic registration or gadgets by the electoral commission so

as to build confidence in their performance.

Electronic Voting: This entails combining electronic voters register and smart card

readers with election result devices that would be self-auditing and

fully equipped with real time facilities. Electronic voting is a type of

voting in which voters are required to use electronic device to make

and record their ballot choice.

Free and Fair Election: It has also been proven to be more efficient and reliable in achieving

credible, free and fair elections. The proper management of election

in Nigeria so as to have viable and transparent elections has been an

issue of serious concern to election authority and stakeholders.

1.8 Organisation of the Study

The study is divided into five main chapters.

Chapter one is the introduction which consist of the background to the study, statement of

research problem, aims and objectives of the study, research question, significance, scope,

definition of terms and organisation of the study. Chapter two present the review of literature and

theoretical framework. Chapter three will focus on the methodology to be employed in the study

Chapter four will encompass analysis and interpretation. Chapter five will provide the summary,

conclusion and recommendation.

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 References

ACE Electoral Knowledge Network, (2011). Focus on e-voting. Retrieved on November 11, 2023
from http://www.aceproject.org/ace-en/focu/e-voting.

AlJa’am, M. J., Alkhelaifi, M., Al-Khinji, A., and Al-Sayrafi, M. (2009). Towards an electronic
voting system for the state of Qatar. Zouk Mosbeh, Lebanon: ACTEA, 569-572.

Ayeni, T. P. and Esan, A. O. (2018). The impact of ICT in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
American Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology, 6, 2349-3917.

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Ayo, C., Adebiyi, A. A. and Sofoluwe, A. B. (2008). E-voting implementation in nigeria: the
success factors. Journal of Computer Science and its Application, 152 pp. 91-105

Chiba, Y. (2021, October 20). Electronic voting and the prospect of free and fair elections in
Nigeria. Retrieved on November 11, 2023 from
https://guardian.ng/opinion/outlook/electronic-voting-and-the-prospect-of-free-and-fair-
elections-in-nigeria/

Duruji, M., Charles, A., Oni, S. and Aderonke, S. (2015). Making a case for e-voting in Nigeria.
Being proceedings of the 15th European Conference on e-government, pp.100-106.

Ejikemejombo, N. (2015). Information and communication technologuy and administration of

2015 general election in Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 7(7), 3-6.

Ogidan, J., Adekola, O. Emmanuel, G. and Okogun, O. (2017). Information and communication
technology for good governance and socio-development in Nigeria. World Scientific News
(WSN), 7(2), 2-7.s

Umonbong, O. (2006). The voting system in Nigeria. Being a paper presented at the AEA Seminar,
BlackPool, England.

Unwuchola, A. A., Adinlewa, T. and Udeh, K. (2017). An appraisal of the role of ICT as a tool for
participatory democracy in Nigeria, MCC, 1(1), 122.

Zissis, D. and Lekkas, D. (2011). Securing e-Government and e-voting with an open cloud
computing architecture. Government Information Quarterly, 28, 239-251.