Information Communication Technology (ICT) As a Tool in Deepening Electoral Process in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Reflections on Tangential Cases

Abstract

The study examined information communication technology (ICT) as a tool for deepening the electoral process in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, focusing on tangential cases. Elections are essential to democracy, and ICTs play a crucial role in enhancing electoral credibility. Nonetheless, concerns over ICT’s overall efficacy in Nigeria’s elections arise from the persistence of cybersecurity risks, digital divide issues, and operational inefficiencies. To mitigate electoral fraud and logistical difficulties, technological advancements such as the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal have been implemented. The study utilized secondary data as its information source. The data were collected from newspapers, journals, reports, articles, and gazettes, and analyzed through content analysis. The study was grounded within the framework of the technological determinism theory as its theoretical basis. The findings revealed, among others, that technology has enhanced the Nigerian electoral process by addressing critical challenges such as the high incidence of multiple registrations and voting, impersonation, long waiting times for voter registration and accreditation, ballot stuffing and snatching, tampering with election results, and prolonged result collation. The study concludes that technology has significantly improved Nigeria’s electoral process by enhancing the quality and efficiency of elections in the Fourth Republic. However, some challenges have also emerged as more technologies continue to be deployed. Nonetheless, the study recommends that INEC should keep deploying more technologies in the electoral process to consolidate the substantial improvements already made and thus deepen the electoral process in Nigeria. Additionally, INEC should implement measures to conduct regular post-election audits of its personnel to identify and penalize those who manipulate elections for the benefit of certain parties or candidates.