CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Across the world, voting is looked upon as the empathy of democratic system. A

convincing election not simply bestows authenticity on political headship, it is as well critical

to the nourishment of self-governing arrangement. Election makes a nation with the

autonomy to decide their leaders and to make a decision on municipal course of action.

Beneath whichever self-governing structure, populace who are lawfully knowledgeable to

implement authorization are makes available with opening to decide political substitutes and

to put together resolutions that put across their predilections. In a multi-party state, this option

is prepared out of the quite a lot of parties and contestants challenging the electoral

procedure. In the recent definition, election is seen as a “legitimizing organization,

accomplishment to present voted privileged the resources to preside over (Adekunbi,

Ademola, Abangwo 2019).

Elections allow the populace to choose their representatives and express their

preferences for how they wish to be governed. Naturally, the integrity of the election process

is fundamental to the integrity of democracy itself. The election system must be sufficiently

robust to withstand a variety of fraudulent behaviours and must be sufficiently transparent

and comprehensible that voters and candidates can accept the results of an election.

Unsurprisingly, history is littered with examples of elections being manipulated in order to

influence their outcomes. The design of a good voting system, whether electronic or using

manual paper ballots or mechanical devices must satisfy a number of competing criteria. The

anonymity of a voter’s ballot must be preserved, both to guarantee the voter’s safety when

voting against a malevolent candidate, and to guarantee that voters have no evidence that

1
proves which candidates received their votes. The existence of such evidence would allow

votes to be purchased by a candidate. A voting system must be understandable and usable by

the entire voting population, regardless of age, infirmity or disability. The system must be

resistant to a wide range of attacks which include ballot stuffing by voters and incorrect

tallying by insiders. Flaws in any of these aspects of a voting system, however, can lead to

indecisive or incorrect election results. Providing accessibility to such a diverse population

via electronic means if done well, could be a great improvement over current paper systems

(Toba, and Adebimpe, 2018).

Electoral process is no doubt an institutionalized procedure for the choosing of political

Office Holders by qualified adults’ members of a society. Hence, electioneering process

exists to• provide the electorate the opportunity and right to choose their representative and

maintain contact with them. Therefore, for an electoral system to be democratic, it should

allow the electorate the leverage to make real and meaningful choice devoid of coercion or

intimidation. Nigeria’s political history have been challenged with the gory tales of electoral

malpractices; a feat that has negatively affected the nation’s polity. Hence, effective

management of the electoral process has become an imperative political demand so as to

ensure the sanctity, transparency and credibility of election results in the nation’s democratic

setting especially since the inception of the Fourth Republic (Olorunfunmibi, 2019).

The smart card reader is an electronic device which is use to detain the atelicity of one’s

permanent voters card. The smart card reader was the most highly contentious and the real

issue in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. The smart card reader was a critical component

in the 2015 general elections. It was used for the first time in Nigeria’s electoral process and

it remains one of the greatest innovative technologies in the 2015 general elections. The

smart card reader is a technological device setup to authenticate and verify on election day a

Permanent Voter Card (PVC) issued by INEC. The device uses a cryptographic technology

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that has ultra-low power consumption, with a single core frequency of 1.2GHz and an

Android 4.2.2. Operating System (INEC, 2015). In other words, the INEC card reader is

designed to read information contained in the embedded chip of the permanent voter's card

issued by INEC to verify the authenticity of the Permanent Voter's Card (PVC) and also carry

out a verification of the intending voter by matching the biometrics obtained from the voter

on the spot with the ones stored on the PVC (Engineering Network Team, 2015). The ability

of the card reader to perform the above described functions as well as keeping a tally of the

total numbers of voters accredited at the polling unit and forwarding the information to a

central database server over a Global System for Mobile (GSM) network makes the card

reader most welcome at this point in time in the nation's electoral history (Engineering

Network Team, 2015). Card reader also helps in maintaining credible electoral system.

Electoral system is a process by which citizens of a given democratic entity elect

representative to handle their machinery of government. This is done through vote casting.

According to Beetseh & Akpoo (2014), electoral system is only one factor in the evolution of

a party system, but the effects of different electoral system can be found in the structure,

ideology, the pattern of the party interaction and the members of the parties that compete in

the political system. An electoral system consists of more than the method of counting votes

cast by the voters. A full description of an electoral system would include such factors as the

extent of franchise that is, who is entitled to vote? It would include the rules relating to the

candidates and parties, and those regulating the administration of election, especially the

provision against corruption. (Kwaghga B and Tarfa A, 2015)

The use of card readers in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria has infused some level

of innoavation in Nigeria electoral process (Alvarez, and Hall, 2008). It was observed that

when the independent National electoral commission (INEC) first announced its plan to

introduce card reader for the March 28 and April 11 2015 general elections many Nigerians,

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politicians in particular vehemently opposed it. They felt that the card reader machine could

have been test -run prior to the general elections to ensure hitch free elections. Besides, they

felt that the country has not developed to a level where such technology could be employed

for elections without prior test. Undoubtedly, the public outcry that greeted the planned use of

card reader was enough to discourage Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

from using it in the general elections. But because INEC has confidence in the efficacy of

modern technology in achieving quick results, in addition to her vision of transforming the

country's electoral process from its analogue norms characterized by ballot boxes and

multiplicity of ballot tomb-printing, INEC went ahead and used the technology against all

hitches. (Amenaghawon, 2015) However, despite the imperfections of the technology, some

observers in Nigeria and outside, that monitored the elections, are full of praises for the INEC

insistence on the usage of card reader machines, pointing out that it is the best thing that has

ever happened to the Nigeria electoral process. They have called on the general public to

embrace it having tested its efficacy and urged the electoral empire to ensure card reader is

used in the subsequent elections as a yardstick for achieving transparency and credibility in

our future elections (Banire, 2015). Meanwhile, election which is a process of choosing

candidates into a public office is a critical component of any democratic setting. Nigeria first

witnessed democracy after the actualization of its Independence (1960-1966) before the

military intervention which led to the obstruction of the process till 1979 when civilian rule

was restored by Obasanjo and in 1983 the military intervened again and eventually, Nigeria

returned to democratic rule and engagement which led to the conduct of its general elections

in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. General elections are elections conducted in the

federation at large for federal and state elective positions. (Dunne, 2006)

The 2015 general election appears to have been the most keenly contested in the history

of elections in Nigeria. It was the first time about four major opposition parties came together

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to form a very strong party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in order to challenge the

dominance of the ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the polity. According

to Omotola (2013:172) the election became the only game in town, shaping and reshaping

public discourse and political actions. Prior to the 2015 general elections, a number of

technologically based reforms were embarked upon by the new leadership of the

Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), headed by Prof. AttairuJega. These

included the biometric register of voters and an advanced finger print identification system.

INEC is the election management body empowered by the 1999 constitution (as amended) of

the Federal Republic of Nigeria to organize, undertake and supervise all elections in Nigeria.

The use of biometrics in African elections is on the rise. No fewer than 25 Sub-Saharan

African countries (including Sierra-Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi,

Rwanda, Senegal, Somaliland, Mali, Togo and Ghana) had already held elections employing

biometric voters register (Piccolino 2015). In Nigeria, the automated finger print

identification system was used in the 2011 general elections to eliminate multiple

registrations from the voters list, but it was not capable of verifying the identity of voters at

the polling stations (Piccolino, 2015). In view of this, INEC adopted the use of the permanent

voter’s card (PVC) system and introduced Smart Card Reader technology, a device used to

scan PVCs to verify the identity of voters at the polling booths. The Smart Card Reader was

one of the greatest innovations of the biometric verification technology and a controversial

but crucial aspect of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. Other African countries, including

Ghana, Kenya and Somaliland, had adopted biometric verification technology. The

technology is particularly useful in settings where governments have not previously

established reliable or complete paper-based identification systems for their populations

(Gelb & Decker, 2012).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

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 Elections in Nigeria are usually characterized by thuggery and violence. This is as a

result of malpractices experienced during election. The search for credible elections has been

a major source of concerned to Nigerian. Elections in the past were done through the use of

manual accreditation and this creates room for massive manipulation of election results by

the ruling party. The resultant effect of this menace is poor governance as contestants who

claim to emerge winners feel they bought votes by their money, as such, no meaningful

development is recorded. It was at this background that the Independent Electoral

Commission under the leadership of Prof. Jega introduced the use of an electronic device

called Smart Card reader (SCR) which was use in the 2015 general elections which seem to

have provided some credibility in the electoral process. It is in the light of the above, that this

research paper intent to analysis the use of Smart Card Reader (SCR) and credible elections

in Nigeria in electoral process. (Kwaghga and Tarfa, 2015)

In spite of the fact that election in Nigeria is the only avenue for people to change bad

governance during the poll, but the politicians have also device a means of defrauding the

people during election. This study is sought to address the best solutions to reduce the level

of fraudulent practices during election in Nigeria. and the assurances given by INEC to

address the issues that aroused with the card readers after its test-run in twelve states of the

federation, the 2015 general elections witnessed the inability of the device to deliver

effectively in a large number of polling units especially in the Presidential and National

Assembly Elections. (Ogunfunmilakin and Ifedayo 2016). The use of an innovative anti-

rigging biometric voter’s registration system, the permanent voter’s card (PVCs) and an

electronic card reading system in the 2015 elections by INEC was therefore introduced to

ensure the promotion of democratic quality of elections and transparency of the electoral

process. However, the application of the voter’s technologies was confronted by some

difficulties; including legal and functionality issues. Despite the fact that biometrics

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technologies aim to authenticate the process of verification, not voting, Section 52 of the

Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) proscribed electronic voting. The problem of inefficiency

which stemmed from imperfect knowledge of its application by the INEC officers further

raised doubt concerning the implementation of the device (Oche 2015; Nwangwu 2015).

1.3 Research Questions

The following questions will guide this study:

(i) In what ways did the smart card reader impact the elections in Nigeria?

(ii) What were the challenges and limitations of the smart card reader in Nigeria during

Election?

(iii) What are the mechanisms that can be put in place to check the challenges that

affects smart card readers during elections in Nigeria?

(iv) What are the credibility the Smart Card Reader brought to the Nigeria elections since

2015?

1.4 Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to assess the use of card reader in general elections

in Nigeria. The objectives of this paper are;

(i) To ascertain the credibility of the Smart Card Reader (SCR) in Nigerian general

Elections.

(ii) To find out the challenges of using the Smart Card Reader (SCR) in Nigerian general

elections.

(iii) To profound solutions to the challenges experience in the use of smart card readers in

Nigeria general elections.

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1.5 Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses will be used for the study.

HO1: There is no significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about the

effect of card readers on election credibility according to Institution.

H02: There is no significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about

the effect of card readers on election credibility according to Faculty.

HO3: There is no significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about the

effect of card readers on election credibility according to gender.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The smart card reader was the most highly contentious and the real issue in the 2015

general elections in Nigeria. The smart card reader was a critical component in the 2015

general elections. It was used for the first time in Nigeria electoral process and it remains one

of the greatest innovative technologies in the 2015 general elections.

The study will be of significance to society (electorate), policy makers, INEC body,

government, ministry of information and researchers. The study will enable the electorate to

understand the importance of smart card readers and the quest for credible elections in

Nigeria. The study will help policy makers on the implementation of smart card readers in

Elections in Nigeria

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study covers Jega’a reform policy on credibility and authenticity of card reader

machinery in Nigeria. Although the study seeks to appraise card reader and its effects on

electoral malpractices, the focus of the study is the election in Nigeria since its arrival.

1.8 Definition of terms

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(i) (Independent National Electoral Commission): The Independent National Electoral

Commission, set up in 1998, is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria.

(ii) (Smart Card Reader): Is an electronic device that reads smart cards and can be found

in the different forms.

(iii) (Permanent Voters Card): A voter ID is simply a document which ascertains

your identity as an adult citizen of the country, and it’s primarily used in casting one’s

vote in municipal, state and general elections.

(iv) CRYPTOGRAPHY : The discipline concerned with communication security

(v) Election and General Election: Election is a critical component of any democratic

society. Thus, it is the process of choosing candidates for public offices. This can be

defined as a type of election conducted in the federation at large for federal and state

elective positions (The Electoral Institute, 2015).

(vi) Action progressive Party: The all progressive party is one of the two major

contemporary political parties in Nigeria. It was founded in 2013.

(vii) People Democratic Party: The people Democratic Party with the popular slogan

(Power to the people) is one of the strong political party in Nigeria and one of the

two major contemporary political parties in Nigeria founded in 1998.

(viii) DEMOCRACY: A government under the direct or representative rule of the people

of its jurisdiction.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

In this chapter, we would looking at the theoretical background, Empirical review of the

topic, likewise the review of related topics made by previous researchers.

2.1 Theoretical background

According to Webb, Gibbins, and Eulau, (n.d.) election is the formal process of

selecting or rejecting a political proposition by voting. The Carter Center (2018), notes that

an election is much more than the Election Day; “it is a cyclical process that unfolds long

before and after voting. An electoral cycle starts at the end of one election and runs through

the beginning of the next election. It has three basic phases: pre electoral preparations,

electoral operations and post-electoral strategies (UNDP, 2010). The origin of elections in the

contemporary world lie in the gradual emergence of representative government in Europe and

North America beginning in the 17th century. Governments were believed to derive their

powers from the consent of the governed from time to time at regular intervals. Today

representative government and elections are the bedrock of democracy – a system of

government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state through elected

representatives. Following decolonization in some African countries in the 1950s and ’60, a

number of countries held elections though many reverted to authoritarian form of rule. In the

1970s, elections were introduced in some African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria

following the dissolution of some military dictatorships. Elections enable voters to select

10
leaders and to hold them accountable for their performance in office. According to the Carter

Center (2018) elections provide political education for citizens and ensure the responsiveness

of democratic governments to the will of the people. They also serve to legitimize the acts of

those who wield power. General election is an election that holds across the country for given

political positions within a particular day or time. In presidential systems, a general election

is a regularly scheduled election where both the president and either a class or all members of

the national legislature are elected at the same time but can also involve special elections held

to fill prematurely vacated positions (Wikipedia). A general election day may also include

elections for local officials.

2.1.1 Elections and Electoral Commissions in Nigeria

Voting is fundamental to politics of the contemporary epoch particularly beneath the

“third gesture” of democratic system (Jega, 2015, 2013; Ojo, 2002; Momah, 2016). Through

the intermediary episode “elections will not just be an establishment rock nevertheless a

solution producer in due course of additional self-governing transformations” (Carothers,

2002:8). A number of spectators have squabbled that customary voting and the connected

social freedoms and political privileges being practiced in novel democratic system such as

Nigeria are a sign of self-governing development and hopefulness (Lynch and Crawford,

2011; Agbu, 2016; Uddhammar et al, 2011).

In Nigeria just like in many African countries, electoral rivalry is becoming further

widespread (Weghorst and Lindberg, 2011). Customary carrying out of ballot voting is not

merely “fundamental to democratization”, however in addition “put in to the maturation of

promising self-governing traditions” (Bratton, 2008). Just as Lindberg declares, “a never-

ending succession of aggressive elections instills the public with convinced self-governing

character- that is contribution, rivalry and authenticity” (Lindberg, 2006b:139). Regrettably,

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“in Nigeria, nevertheless, election is one of the major tribulations of the self-governing

progression” (Omotola, 2010:535). Carrying out open and reasonable elections has for all

time been a difficulty that intimidate the awfully continued existence of the nation and

question the significance of democratic system (Agbu, 2016). Without a doubt, the troubles

connected with voting have unswerving routine of self-governing organizations (Wapmuk,

2016). The administrations in Nigeria recognize that, the disagreements over exceedingly

manipulated elections have been the forebear to political aggression and unsteadiness in

Nigeria (FGN, 2014b).

Substantiating the beyond, the past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral

Commission {INEC}) in Nigeria declares: “A sequence of poorly carried out elections might

generate continuous political unsteadiness and with no trouble turn around the grows of

democratization... it could be squabbled that the penalty of poorly carried out elections and

inadequately administered electoral progressions are most important causative reasons to

armed forces interregnum in Nigeria’s political times past” (Jega, 2015:2). This is frequent

principally in emergent nations where inadequately carried out elections have turn out to be a

foremost reason of the confusion that has overwhelmed a lot of countries in modern period

(Jega, 2013). Without a doubt, the disintegration of Nigeria preceding democracies

(1st, 2nd and 3rd) is in a number of traditions not independent to the tribulations of

voting conduct.

In consequence, the eminence of voting has been the apprehension of intellectuals,

policy-makers and practitioners. This initiative is to establish or differentiate among

legitimate, open and reasonable or trustworthy balloting and a voting which is conflicting

(Bland et al, 2013). This can be unavoidably connected in traditions than solitary to the

capability and potential of the Electoral Administration Institution, that settle on significantly

12
not merely the trustworthiness of the electioneering progression nevertheless as well the

sustainability of democratic system on the lengthy lope (Omotola, 2010).

2.1.2 Electoral Process in Nigeria

As emphasized by Elekwa (2008:30), the election progression transmits to the complete

series varying from the stipulation of electorate tutoring to the termination of the National

Congress. In addition, INEC (2006), as stated in the study by Elekwa (2008), ousts that the

dissimilar segments of the electioneering progression comprise the subsequent: Boundary of

electioneering limitations, Listing of electorate, Giving date of elections, Recommendation of

contestant, Election rallies, Voting, pronouncement of outcome and conclusion of court

sessions, partaking of further institutions, declaration of electoral clashes ensuing from the

involvement of other organizations, citizens, groups, and so on.

The electioneering progression is consequently a multifaceted procedure which covers

the excellent purposes as well as detrimental results of election organization, predominantly

in upcoming democratic system where wide-ranging elections are frequently flawed by

racially tinged electoral misconduct. In the case of Nigeria, the reality vestiges that the

electioneering progression is enormously differentiated through traditions of electioneering

misconducts. Ezeani (2004) define electioneering misconducts as the irregularities entrusted

via regime officers accountable for the carrying out of balloting, political groups,

assemblages or persons in the midst of threatening purpose to manipulate a ballot vote in

supports of a contestant or contestants.

Extreme electoral misconducts frequently result to electoral aggressions which in all

polity have to be measured detrimental. Obliquely, voting is a progression and not an

13
occurrence. It engages in cooperation regulations and organizations. Lending credibility to

the aforementioned, Jinadu give details that through election progression: Is destined the

regulations measures and actions connecting to amongst a number of few, the institution of

electoral organizations, the selections of their associates, listing of electorate,

recommendation of nominees, voting, counting of the votes, announcement of outcome,

collection and education of electioneering officer, electorate boundary, elector schooling and

in a number of instances, listing of political groups and administration of political group

recommendation assemblies. Correspondingly, Momah (2016) remarks that voting as a

progression go beyond actions which are conducted on the election date. To him, assessment

and elucidation of voting ought to be comprehensive to comprise lawful and legitimate

structural design and actions which acquire position prior to, during and subsequent to voting

date. In his expressions, voting as a progression: engrosses the contribution made by

populace through work of choosing by ballot their rulers and the contribution they make in

authority.

Voting is not essentially regarding voting date actions, even though it outlines a

significant constituent. It covers actions previous to, during and subsequent to elections. It

comprises the lawful and legitimate construction of ballot votes; listing of political groups;

political crusades; actions of safety organizations and regime in authority. It comprises

genuineness and legitimacy of electorate inventory. It comprises the self-government or be

deficient in the electoral organizations and subdivisions. It comprises the emancipation or

else of political progressions in the nation and sovereignty associated with arbitration groups

in ballot vote (Momah, 2016).

Since the categorization above, electioneering progression is a succession of

proceedings which bring into being impressive or that show the way to a scrupulous

consequence or conclusion. It is more often than not a multifaceted and unwieldy progression

14
in particular in emergent countries similar to Nigeria with elementary improvement of

political arrangements and organizations as well as stumpy political customs. Learning from

the understanding of previous elections carried out in Nigeria, it was understandable to all

and sundry that INEC deal with a number of the logistics dispute it bump into in the

preceding polls in the 2019 general election, when supplies for the election were conveyed to

every States and the FCT and movement to the Local Government Areas were without

problem as every supplies and significant workforce arrived at the Registration Area Centres

(RACs) that made the majority of the polling centre to open by 8.00 am (Leadership

Newspaper, 2019). In addition to elections into 1,558 positions countrywide, the Commission

carries out complementary elections in 14 States of the Federation covering 7 Senatorial

Districts and 24 Federal Constituencies. Elections in the pretentious areas were interrupted

primarily by proceeds of brutality concerning ballot box grabbing, kidnapping of INEC

officers, over voting and the disappointment to stick on to set of laws and guiding principle

(Leadership Newspaper, 2019). The figure of registered electorate in the polling centre

concerned in every constituency was additional than the votes acknowledged by the

contender with the utmost number of votes.

2.1.3 ELECTION TECHNOLOGY

Automation is usually spurred by a sense of urgency to overcome a specific problem or

situation. Most electoral management bodies in the world today employ the use of innovative

ICT technologies with the aim of improving the electoral process and eliminating the

cumbersome processes associated with the manual procedure. It is believed that technology

not only makes electoral processes cleaner, easier and faster but can also makes it more

secure, reliable and sustainable. Relevant technologies for electoral processes range from

basic office automation tools like the word processing and spread sheets to sophisticated data

processing tools like data base management systems, optical scanning and geographic

15
information systems. It is pertinent now to point out the various phases in an electoral

process: the design and drafting of legislation otherwise called the legal framework, the

recruitment and training of electoral staff, electoral planning, voter registration, registration

of political parties, nomination of parties and candidates, electoral campaign, polling,

counting, tabulation of results, declaration of results, resolution of electoral disputes,

reporting, auditing and archiving. Whichever technology to be employed, care must be given

to the adoption of technology in a given political system to avoid the risk of compromising

transparency and sustainability of any phase of or an entire electoral process.

The impacts of technology in many areas of life have prompted citizens of nations to

expect their electoral institutions to keep pace with realities of modern technology. In the

United States of America, online voter registration is growing exponentially, from two states

in 2008 to over 29 states during the last elections that brought Donald Trump to power

(Ayinde and Idowu, 2016). He maintained that when Great Britain launched the option of

online registration in March 2015, over two million Britons registered to vote online during

the five weeks prior to the deadline for the national elections. African democracies are in the

process of co-ordinating a generation jump in applied technology (Chan, 2017). In Nigeria,

the process of casting a ballot has been the marking of a paper ballot with a pen and counting

the paper ballots manually.

INEC has recently secured an approval from the Nigerian Senate to use the electronic

voting system in the 2019 general elections as a means to advance credibility, integrity and

legitimacy, ensuring stronger democracy for the country. Prior to the 2015 general elections

in Nigeria INEC had used temporary voter’s cards (TVCs) instead of permanent voters’ cards

(PVCs) to vote at various elections making a recipe for monumental rigging of votes. INEC

introduced the use of PVCs for use in the 2015 general elections. The PVCs have many

components and specialized features like the base substrate, security printing,

16
personalization, lamination and chip embedding with an average life span of ten years,

(Ayinde and Idowu, 2016). The embedded chip in the PVC contains all the biometrics of a

legitimate holder including the fingerprints and facial image.

2.1.4 THE VOTER’S CARD READER

The voter’s card reader is a portable electronic device issued by the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC), configured to read the permanent voter’s cards,

verify the voters and transmit information to a central database for the purpose of election

result collations. The device uses a cryptographic technology that has ultra-low power

consumption, with a single core frequency of 1.2GHz and an Android 4.2.2. Operating

system (INEC, 2015). The voter’s card reader is designed to read the chip programmed in the

PVCs to verify their authenticity and verify the intending voters by matching the biometrics

obtained from the voters on the spot with the ones stored on the PVCs (Dahiru, Abdulkadir,

Baba, 2015). The voter’s card reader also has the ability to keep a tally of the total number of

voters accredited at the polling unit and forward it to a central database server over a global

system for mobile (GSM) network. It keeps the statistics of the voters’ gender for easy

collation.

The PVC is placed into a port in the voter’s card reader, which then displays the voter’s

details. When the voter places his/her thumb on the device, and within 10-20 seconds, his/ her

identity is confirmed through the fingerprint authentication system except when there are

some technical glitches. On completion of the accreditation process, “a close-v” key is used

to complete or end the process, while the total number of accredited voters can be previewed

17
using the “query” key. The “communication” key is used to forward results to INEC’s central

database (INEC, 2015).

2.1.5 Theoretical Framework

The Cybernetics Model of Communications Theory

This work adopts the Cybernetic Model of Communications Theory

Cybernetics is the branch of science concerned with the study of systems of any nature,

which are capable of receiving, storing and processing information to use it for control. The

term “cybernetics” was coined by the mathematician Norbert Weiner in 1948 to encompass

“the entire field of control and communication theory, whether in the machine or in the

animal” (American Society for Cybernetics, 2018). The communications theory was

developed through the pioneering research efforts of Norbert Wiener, Louis Couffignal, John

von Neumann, McCulloch, W. Ross Ashby, Alan Turing, W. Grey Walter and Karl W.

Deutsch. Deutsch introduced the techniques of cybernetics to the sphere of political analysis

through his work “The Nerves of Government: Models of Political Communication and

Control” which happens to be the first attempt to formulate a fully developed theory of

politics based on a communications model. However, it was Wiener’s work: “Cybernetics”

mthat gave the cybernetics model its analytic fervour. Wiener further popularized the social

implications of the model, drawing analogies between automatic systems and human

institutions in his work, “The Human Use of Human Beings: Cybernetics and Society.”

According to Gauba (2003), “cybernetics is the study of the operation of control and

communication systems; it deals both with biological systems and man-made machinery”

The term “cybernetics, covers not only the versions of information theory, but the

theory of games, self-controlling machines, computers and the physiology of the nervous

system” (Varma, 1975,). “The system codes incoming information, recognizes patterns,

18
stores the patterns in its memory unit, learns from its experience, recalls information on

command, recombines information in new patterns, and applies stored information to

problem-solving and decision-making” (Winner, 1969).

Cybernetics theories focus on how systems function, that is to say how they control

their actions, how they communicate with other systems or with their own components.

According to the wikibooks, the cybernetics theories tend to rest on four basic pillars:

circularity, variety, process and observation. One of the earliest studies on voting decisions

where the cybernetics model was applied to is “The American Voter” where Angus Campbell

led other researchers to give sophisticated accounts of how computer technology influences

electoral processes. In the field of computer technology, cybernetics has become a conceptual

relic of communications theory. (Ifegwu, Charlse, Godslight, Maryann and Daniel, 2019)

The cybernetics model of communications theory has therefore been adopted as a tool

for assessing the impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), particularly

the card reader, in conducting a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria’s General Elections

in between 2012-2017. The growing complexity of the world has made the use of ICT for

administrative purposes a desideratum. The 21st century is described as the “electric” or “jet”

age in order to underscore the importance and pervasiveness of computer technology in

different spheres of human existence hence; the practice of politics has increasingly involved

the use of electronic mass media, mobile telephony and high-speed digital computers. Men,

machines, and political units all use and dispose of information from their environments in

essentially the same manner, acting on certain varieties of messages and rejecting others.

Accordingly, Momodu (2014) argues that relying on election rigging is becoming

obsolete and increasingly difficult as social media and mobile telephony are breaking down

those walls that aided electoral malfeasance in the recent past. As an activity in which men

19
and machines are involved hand-in-circuit, it is not surprising that the cybernetics model

should become plausible as a basis for understanding the use of technology in electoral

process. (Ifegwu, Charlse, Godslight, Maryann and Daniel, 2019)

2.2 Empirical review

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced the voter’s card

reader also known as smart card reader for use, for the first time in Nigeria’s electoral process

in the 2015 general elections. The use of the voter’s card reader for the purpose of voters’

accreditation during an election is an INEC reform and a critical component of the 2015

general elections. The card reader is configured for use at specific polling units to

authenticate permanent voter’s card (PVC), verify voter’s identity and provide an electronic

backup for accredited voters on Election Day. Prior to its use in the 2015 general elections

under the leadership of Prof Attahiru Jega, a number of technologically based reforms among

which are biometric register of voters and advanced fingerprints identification system were

introduced by INEC-The Nigerian Election Management Body (EMB). Today, technology is

used in the electoral process of many countries across the globe for voters’ registration and

register compilation, to draw electoral boundaries, to manage and train election officials, to

conduct voter education for stakeholders, to print ballots, to count and record votes, to

announce and publish election results etc. (Ifegwu, et al., 2019)

2.2.1 The background of the use of the voter’s card reader

The voter’s card reader is an electronic device used during the accreditation of voters

for the purpose on an election. According to Golden, Kramon and Ofosu (2014,), “these

technological solutions, such as electronic voting machines, polling station webcams and

biometric identification equipment, offer the promise of rapid, accurate, and ostensibly

tamper-proof innovations that are expected to reduce fraud in the processes of registration,

20
voting or vote count aggregation”. Biometric identification machines authenticate the identity

of voters using biometric markers, such as fingerprints, that are almost impossible to

counterfeit.

Nigeria’s quest for e-voting started in the Second Republic when the Chairman of the

defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), late Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, mooted

the idea for the 1983 elections. The motion was however, opposed by the then leader of the

defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who threatened to

mobilise his supporters to smash the machines. In 2006, when the former INEC Chairman

Prof. Maurice Iwu proposed the e-voting for the 2007 elections, it was still greeted with

criticism. According to Salaudeen (2013), the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere,

rejected the method saying that the country was not ripe for it. Salaudeen (2013) noted that

Anifere cited low literacy level and lack of time to ascertain its workability as an excuse to

their objection to e-voting. Besides, the organization alleged that Iwu had a hidden agenda

and if the proposal were approved, would serve as a rigging mechanism for him. Some

politicians especially from the north opposed the idea of PVC on the ground that it offended

their culture and religion, but the INEC Chairman Prof. Iwu swayed them when he informed

them that if they had no objection having photographs on their international passports, then

there was no cogent reason to oppose such procedure in the new voter’s card. Prof. Iwu’s

proposal was however, dismissed by the Senate with one of the reasons being the low literacy

level of Nigeria’s voting population. Nigeria witnessed the first use of biometric registration

in 2007 general elections. However, there was no electronic verification during accreditation

and voters were issued with TVCs for use at the elections. According to Suberu (2007), the

election turned out to be very controversial with some scholars and observers describing it as

the worst election in the annals of general elections in the country.

21
 On the June 8th 2010, Prof. Attahiru Jega was nominated by the then President

Goodluck Jonathan as the new INEC Chairman subject to Senate confirmation as a

replacement for Prof. Maurice Iwu who vacated office on 28th April 2010 at the expirationof

his term. Prof. Jega continued with the pursuit for electronic voting with the first step of

conducting a fresh voter’s registration using electronic data capturing system of registration.

With the approval of the electronic data capturing system of registration by the Senate in

2010, INEC embarked on the purchase and deployment of 120,000 composite electronic

voter registration equipment, principally laptop computers, fingerprint scanners, high

resolution cameras, backup power packs and integrated printers for producing temporary but

high quality voters cards that can be used for the proposed January 2011 general elections.

With the fresh biometric voters’ registration exercise in 2010 there has been continuous voter

registration exercise going on in INEC to update the register for the purpose of including

persons who recently attained the age of 18 or who did not register previously. (Ayinde and

Idowu, 2016)

After the 2011 general elections, there were claims and counter claims of exclusion by

prospective voters while the voter turnout could not reconcile with the number of registered

voters because the voters’ register was oversubscribed with fictive and non-existent

persons/names. This experience drove INEC to the determination of using PVCs and voters’

card readers to improve the process. To demonstrate the operation of the card readers for

accreditation, INEC organised a test trial of the proposed card readers in twelve states. With

about 90% success rate from the test trial of the voter’s card reader on March 7th 2015, the

Senate approved the use of the voters’ card readers for accreditation in the general elections

and the use of PVCs only for accreditation and voting. Although the public outcry that

greeted the planned use of the card reader was enough to discourage INEC from using it in

the general elections, INEC had confidence in the efficacy of modern technology in achieving

22
quick result coupled with its vision to transform the country’s electoral process from its

archaic norms characterized by ballot box snatching and multiplicity of ballot tomb printing,

and went ahead of INEC in the use of the voter’s card reader machine for the general

election, some challenges were inevitably apparent, though the election was still adjudged by

domestic and international observers as being the best in Nigeria so far.to use the technology,

against all hitches (Nnorom, 2015). However, despite the confidence. (Akpedeye, 2015)

2.2.2 The impact of electronic card reader on the Nigeria’s 2015 general elections:

The adoption of the card reader was one of the initiatives of INEC to arrest the inflation

of voter roll in the country. At the end of the voter registration exercise in 2011, the

Commission claimed that 73 million Nigerians had registered, out of which the Automated

Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) had removed 800,000 persons for double

registration (Aziken, 2015). This was the first time in the history of Nigeria that details of

double registrants were removed from the voter’s register, and considering that a credible

election begins with a credible voter registration with a valid identification for the election,

the registration exercise was pertinent for the upcoming 2015 General Elections. Proffesor

Jega noted that INEC did not see the need for an amendment of the Electoral Act to

accommodate the use of the card reader and that the Commission would not revert to manual

accreditation of voters during the elections nor will it use the Temporary Voter’s Card (TVC)

for the elections.

2.3 Review of related/ previous studies

According to Momah (2016), it is pragmatic with the aim of the majority of Nigerians

deem that electoral commissions are fundamental to the tribulations connected with the

carrying out of elections in Nigeria. Also the past Head of State Jonathan (2013) decides to

substantiate the view expressed above that, the potency and staying authority of our

23
democratic system is reliant on how greatly we put together a political tradition of open and

fair electoral competitions.

In the same way, the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) observe Nigeria’s

electioneering agenda and progression with the aim to humanizing the superiority and

principles of electioneering squabbles that: open and just voting are the foundation of all

democratic system and the most important instrument for practicing the rule of autonomy of

the citizens. In the course of such elections, populace contribute in the ascendancy of their

nation through their selections, the populace bestow authenticity and influence on those who

administer Open and plausible elections are consequently a vital obligation for superior

supremacy in every democratic system (ERC, 2008:1). What is pertinent is that, voting and

the organization that accomplish the electioneering progressions are not merely significant to

the whole self-governing structure nevertheless also draw noteworthy notice for the reason

that they make possible the progression of legitimizing management. This they perform in the

course of voting progressions and make possible the methodical achievement and convey of

political authority (Oche, 2016). On the other hand, the electoral progression in Nigeria is

overwhelmed in the midst of a dispute that not merely encroaches essentially on the

capability of the electoral body to carry out plausible elections nevertheless in addition

weaken democratic system in the nation (Jega, 2015).

Odo, (2017) in his research stated that the real issue in the 2015, presidential election

bore down to the use of the card reader machine, as a novel to the electoral System in

Nigeria. The card reader was a critical component that distinguished the 2015 presidential

election from other presidential elections so far conducted in Nigeria. This paper was

predicated on verifying the credibility, authenticity, transparency and efficiency of card

reader in the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria. The use of the card reader

24
generated debates among the party stakeholders before, during and after the 2015 presidential

election. One of such debates was the legality for the use of the device.

Odo, (2017) argued that the use of card reader in the 2015 presidential election was

right step in the right direction and marked laudable steps forward for Nigeria's democratic

consolidation efforts and more importantly worked to stimulate and build trust among

citizens in the electoral process. Although, there were many challenges as a good number of

legible voters were disfranchised by the card reader for no justifiable reason.

Notwithstanding, the author of this paper advocates for subsequent use of card readers in the

future elections with improvement on the problems encountered in the 2015 presidential

election.

Ogunfunmilakin and Ifedayo Bright, (2016) in their study investigates the credibility

and authenticity of card reader machinery in Nigeria using Jega reform policy as a case study.

Four research questions were formulated to guide the study and analyzed using descriptive

statistics.200 hundred participant were used for the study. Their findings revealed that smart

card reader enabled credibility in election. Also, the smart card reader is reliable during

election, smart card reader is effective in voting, and smart card reader is a means to

eliminate electoral violence, smart card reader enables quick voting among the electorate,

card readers’ increase the authenticity of votes cast among electorate. The findings made by

Ogunfunmilakin and Ifedayo Bright, (2016) revealed that the device was introduced to

enhance the integrity of the voting process, dissuade multiple voting (as only duly accredited

and verified PVC holders could vote) enhance credibility of election, the use of card reader

infused some level of transparency and credibility into Nigeria’s electoral process. The

findings also revealed the challenges affecting the effective implementation of the use of

smart card readers which includes possible battery failures to power the device, time factor

consumed during PVC verification, timeliness issues in verifying PVC holders affects the

25
effective implementation of the use of smart card readers, many voters could be covered

within the accreditation process, thus mode of operation was not a problem of challenge, the

card readers could not access names of voters beginning from alphabets. The result revealed

that there should be training for officials in charge of elections on how to use smart card

readers, the electorate should always be informed on the importance of smart card reader in

elections, there should be adequate security for the officials handling smart card reader.

Recommendations were made based on findings.

Beetseh, and Akpoo, (2014) in there study provided the analysis of the use of smart card

reader (SCR) and credible elections in Nigeria 2015. The study was conducted in Makurdi

Local Government Area of Benue State. Four objectives were set to achieve and 1 hypothesis

formulated. The population for the INEC included all the 207 INEC staff in Makurdi Local

Government Area. The sample for the study was 180 respondents. Data was collected with

the use of researcher’s constructed questionnaire. Data collected was analyzed using

descriptive statistics; arithmetic mean and standard. Inferential statistics; chi-square was

employed to test hypothesis. Findings for the study revealed a significant Chi-square

calculated (X-cal) of 2.71 and the chi-square tabulated (X-tab) of 2.69 (p=2.71>2.69). This

was an indication that smart card reader has credibility on the conduct of the 2015 general

elections in Nigeria. The study made by Beetseh and Akpoo, T, (2014) concluded that the

evolution of smart card reader technology marks the significant development of electoral

systems in many counties. It was recommended that all Nigerians should accept the use smart

card readers in the conduct of elections at all levels. Both INEC and Adhoc staff should be

properly trained on the use of smart card readers to eliminate the challenges experienced in

the 2015 general elections.

26
 CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

This chapter contains the research design used for the study, the total population of

respondent, the Sampling and Sampling procedure, Research instrument, Procedure for data

collection, and method of analysis.

3.1 Research Design

A survey research design was adopted in order to ensure an effective study. The rational for

using the research method was because, survey provides the best means of collecting the

views of the analysis of smart card reader and the quest for credible elections in Nigeria.

3.2 Population

27
The study populations consist of the registered voters in the 2019 General Election living in

Olabisi Olabisi University and University of Ibadan. This geophysical area was deliberately

chosen because it combines the qualities of both urban and rural communities. For the 2019

general election, Ogun State had 2,375003 registered voters, (INEC 2019)

3.3 Sample and Sampling Procedure

Sampling technique; convenient and purposive sampling techniques will be adopted for the

study. The sample refers to that section selected from the entire population to represent the

rest. The purpose sampling techniques by the researcher are judgment sampling method

which is considered to provide the needed data for the research work. The sample procedures

are the method used in drawing sample from population which gives a sample size for the

study.

Firstly, the respondent will be selected based on the availability and willingness to respond to

the instruments and grant access to reports and other important information.

The sample size of 102 and 103 registered voters was drawn from student of Olabisi

Onabanjo Univeristy and University of Ibadan respectively.

3.4 Research Instrument

A Self-constructed questionnaire titled Credibility and Authenticity of Card Reader

Machinery Questionnaire (CACRMQ)” was used for the study. It will have two sections; A,

and B. Section A consists of the bio-data of the respondents, which will include gender,

religion, marital status and educational qualification. Section B consists of items that measure

the credibility and authenticity of card reader machinery in Nigeria.

3.5 Procedure for Data Collection

28
The questionnaires was personally administered to the respondents by the researcher and the

research assistants. The researcher and the research assistants verbally explain the purpose of

the study to the participants. The major instrument used for data collection is the

questionnaires which covers the study on investigation. Five point scale of Likert type of

questionnaire was used. Ranging from 5 to 1 point in order of strongly Agree (SA), Agree

(A), Undecided (UN), Disagree (DA) and Strongly disagree (SD).

3.6 Method of Data Analysis

Data analysis entails the process of obtaining information from the data collected and

presenting them. This ensured that the data collected was valid and reliable. The analysed

data was then represented in tables. Descriptive statistical method of data analysis will be

adopted, and this model involved the use of trend analysis, percentage, bar chart, and

tabulation.

The data collected via the questionnaire will be analysed using descriptive statistics with the

use of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

4.1 Presentation of Findings

Table 1: Demographic Data

Variables Levels Frequency Percentage

Institution University of Ibadan(UI) 103 50.2

Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) 102 49.8

Gender Male 109 53.2

Female 96 46.8

Age 16-20 75 36.6

29
 21-25 110 53.7

26-30 20 9.8

Faculty Education 52 25.4

Arts 66 32.2

Administration and Management

Science 52 25.4

Law 9 4.4

Science 26 12.7

Level of

Education 100 level 31 15.1

200 level 69 33.7

300 level 62 30.2

400 level 43 21

Total 205

Table 1b: Perception of respondents on the introduction of card reader for election process
Standard
Items SD A D SD Mean Deviation
The introduction of the smart card reader is an
1 anti-electoral fraud reduction mechanism 94(45.9) 69(33.7) 34(16.6) 8(3.9) 3.21 0.86
The use of smart card reader helps to boot
2 Nigerians confidence in election process 72(35.1) 115(56.1) 16(7.8) 2(1.0) 3.25 0.64
The use of card readers eliminates delay in
3 election process 68(33.2) 100(48.8) 34(16.6) 3(1.5) 3.14 0.74
Failure to use smart card reader is an election
4 increases the chances of electoral malpractices 88(42.9) 84(41.0) 26(12.7) 7(3.4) 3.23 0.80
The use of card reader by electorate has been
5 proven to work 79(38.5) 105(51.2) 20(9.8) 1(0.5) 3.28 0.65
The introduction of the smart card reader is good
because other countries have used it and it
6 worked for them 69(33.7) 97(47.3) 38(18.5) 1(0.5) 3.14 0.72

30
 Accreditation of voters is faster with introduction
7 of smart card readers 90(43.9) 94(45.9) 19(9.3) 2(1.0) 3.33 0.68
Voters cannot vote more than once in an election
8 with smart card reader 82(40.0) 77(37.6) 38(18.5) 8(3.9) 3.14 0.85
Introduction of voters card helps to achieve
electoral malpractices better than the thumb
9 method of voting 72(35.1) 84(41.0) 36(17.6) 13(6.3) 3.05 0.88
Records of voters who have voted before is
10 permanently secured with the PVC 80(39.0) 97(47.3) 21(10.2) 7(3.4) 3.22 0.76
The smart card reader is the best option to curb
11 electoral malpractices 80(39.0) 94(45.9) 31(15.1) 0(0.0) 3.24 0.70
The idea of card readers in election discourage
multiple voting(as only duly accredited and
12 verified PVC holders could vote) 81(39.5) 81(39.5) 37(18.0) 6(2.9) 3.16 0.82
The introduction of the smart card reader
enhances transparency and credibility into
13 Nigeria's electoral process 86(42.0) 98(47.8) 15(7.3) 6(2.9) 3.29 0.73
The introduction of card readers are programmed
14 to work for specific polling units 60(29.3) 69(33.7) 62(30.2) 14(4.8) 2.85 0.92
The smart card reader is the best option to curb
15 electoral malpractices 82(40.0) 88(42.9) 29(14.1) 6(2.9) 3.2 0.79
Permanent voters card helps to bring election
16 fraud to the barest minimum 69(33.7) 116(56.6) 16(7.8) 4(2.0) 3.22 0.67
Cases of post-election petition has greatly
17 reduced with the introduction of PVC 70(34.1) 108(52.7) 26(12.7) 1(0.5) 3.2 0.67
18 Card readers function well during election period 63(30.7) 110(53.7) 30(14.6) 2(1.0) 3.14 0.69
Card readers reduces the rate of missing election
19 result 93(45.4) 64(31.2) 39(19.0) 9(4.4) 3.18 0.89
Ballot snatching has greatly reduced with the
20 introduction of card readers 72(35.1) 100(48.8) 26(12.7) 7(3.4) 3.16 0.77

4.2 Summary of Findings

HO1: There is no significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about the

effect of card readers on election credibility according to Institution.

Table 2: Mean score and the t-test of perception of the effect of card readers on election

credibility based on institution

Std. Mean Sig. (2-

Institution Mean Deviation Difference T df tailed)

University of Ibadan(UI) 62.76 6.76

31
 Olabisi Onabanjo University(OOU) 64.5 6.48 -1.74 -1.88 203 0.06

Table 2 showed the mean score and the t-test of undergraduate student’s perception of the

effect of card readers on election credibility based on their institution. OOU has the

higher mean than UI, OOU (Mean=64.5 SD=6.48) and UI (Mean=62.76 SD=6.76).

The mean difference between the two was -1.74. An independent t-test conducted

showed that the observed difference was not statistically significant, t= -1.88 Df=203,

p>0.05. Therefore, the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the

perception of undergraduate students about the effect of card readers on election

credibility according to institution is not rejected.

H02: There is no significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about

the effect of card readers on election credibility according to Faculty.

Table 3: Analysis of Variance of perception of undergraduate students about the effect of

card readers on election credibility according to Faculty.
Sum of Mean
Squares df Square F Sig.
Between
Groups 500.305 4 125.076 2.92 0.022
Within Groups 8567.77 200 42.839
Total 9068.08 204

Table 3 shows the analysis of variance of perception of undergraduate students about

the effect of card readers on election credibility according to Faculty. The table showed that
the mean difference observed in the group was statistically significant, F (4,200) =2.92,
p<0.05. Therefore, the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the perception of
undergraduate students about the effect of card readers on election credibility according to
Faculty is rejected.

32
HO3: There is no significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about the
effect of card readers on election credibility according to gender.
Table 4: Mean score and the t-test of gender perception of the effect of card readers on
election credibility.
Std. Mean Sig. (2-
Gender Mean Deviation Difference t Df tailed)
Male 62.95 7.03
Female 64.39 6.18 -1.43 -1.54 203 0.13

Table 4 showed the mean score and the t-test of gender perception of the effect of card
readers on election credibility. Female respondents has the higher mean than male, female
(Mean=64.39 SD=6.18) and male (Mean=62.95 SD=7.03). The mean difference between the
two was -1.43. An independent t-test conducted showed that the observed difference was not
statistically significant, t= -1.54 Df =202, p>0.05. Therefore, the hypothesis that there is no
significant difference in the perception of undergraduate students about the effect of card
readers on election credibility according to gender is not rejected.

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Discussion of findings

The study made use of questionnaires to collect data from 205 respondents across OOU and

UI. Data collected was analysed using frequency, percentage statistical analyses. The result

of findings in research question one show that most of the respondents strongly agreed that

the introduction of the smart card reader is an anti-electoral fraud reduction mechanism.

The result of findings in research question twelve and sixteen show that most of the

respondents strongly agreed that the idea of card readers in election discourage multiple

33
voting (as only duly accredited and verified PVC holders could vote) and permanent voters

card helps to bring election fraud to the barest minimum . This result was supported by Odo,

(2017) argued that the use of card reader in the 2015 presidential election was right step in

the right direction and marked laudable steps forward for Nigeria's democratic consolidation

efforts and more importantly worked to stimulate and build trust among citizens in the

electoral process

The findings shows that there is significant relationship between perceptions of

undergraduate students about the effect of card readers on election credibility according to

gender and it also shows that there is a significant relationship between perception of

undergraduate students and the effect of card readers on election credibility according to

Institution. Also, it indicate that there is a significant relationship between perception of

undergraduate students and the effect of card readers on election credibility according to

Faculty. This result was supported by Beetseh, and Akpoo, (2014) their result revealed that

smart card reader has credibility on the conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.

5.2 Conclusion

Elections allow the populace to choose their representatives and express their preferences for

how they wish to be governed. Naturally, the integrity of the election process is fundamental

to the integrity of democracy itself. The election system must be sufficiently robust to

withstand a variety of fraudulent behaviours and must be sufficiently transparent and

comprehensible that voters and candidates can accept the results of an election. . A survey

research design was adopted in order to ensure an effective study.

34
The study populations consist of the registered voters in the 2019 General Election living in

Ogun State. A Self-constructed questionnaire titled Credibility and Authenticity of Card

Reader Machinery Questionnaire (CACRMQ)” was used for the study. The analysed data

was then represented in tables. Descriptive statistical method of data analysis will be adopted,

and this model involved the use of trend analysis, percentage, bar chart, and tabulation. The

result from the finding shows that card reader is very helpful in providing smooth and

credible election in Nigeria. The cards reader introduction serves as a bridge to fill in for

corrupt practises of voter’s election.

5.2 Recommendations

INEC should make an effort to manage information about the technology and consequent

changes that may occur in the process of adaption so that stakeholders do not have any doubt

or unrealistic expectations. There is need to strengthen the electoral laws in conformity with

the trending technology. In this case, the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) should be

amended to include the use of the card reader for biometric verification of voters for the

purpose of accreditation in future elections. Therefore, the National Assembly should quickly

be approached by INEC to amend the electoral legal frameworks on the use of card reader in

order to address the issue of legality which thecard reader had generated.

Furthermore, adequate training of INEC staff and ad hoc staff should be conducted in a

conducive environment ahead of time so as to give rooms for practical demonstrations of how

to use the device effectively. Enough card reader should be made available during the

training session. Every one of the trainee should undergo a mock test during training. Strict

compliance with all instructions handed down to the trainees should be monitored. The

trainees‟ allowances should be paid in full in order to motivate them in handling the device

properly.

35
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