Independent National Electoral Commission and Use of Electronic Devices in the Conduct of Election in Nigeria: A Focus on the 2020 Governorship Election in Edo State

Abstract

The independent national electoral commission and use of electronic devices in the conduct of election in Nigeria: a focus on the 2020 governorship election in Edo state. The study examined the reliability and sustainability of the use of electronic devices on the conduct of elections. To provide INEC opportunity, resources and enabling legal framework to address the challenges that are hindering her efforts of conducting free, fair and credible elections in time past. it intends to scrutinize the reliability of electronic devices in the conduct of Elections. It chronicles the electronic devices deployed in the conduct of the 2020 Governorship Election in Edo State, by evaluating the roles and challenges of electronic devices in the conduct of elections. The relevance of the study is to help fill the gap in the framework of the stakeholders, political actors that sustainability of the use of electronic devices in conduct of elections will improve the electoral process and contribute to the extant literature on election management in Nigeria. The survey method was employed in carrying out this research. Questionnaires were administered to elicit answers from sampled respondents in selected Local Governments of Edo State. A total of 485 respondents responded to 41 questions in the questionnaire. To obtain the sample size from the population of study, the Taro Yamane sampling technique was applied. While the respondent’s views were analysed and presented in simple tables of numbers and percentages. Two statement hypothesis forms null; (H0) and research (Hr) were tested using Chi- Square. The survey data findings reveal from respondents’ responses are that electronic devices influences citizens’ confidence, trust, and participation in elections and ability in its outcome as true reflection of their wishes. Therefore, the reliability and sustainability doubt are the gap this research seeks to fill, with a focus on the 2020 Governorship Election in Edo States. Based on the following findings, the study justifies that electronic device have a role in the conduct of election, electronic devices in the conduct of election have instilled citizen’s confidence in the electoral process in Nigeria, there are challenges and prospects with electronic devices in the conduct of election in Nigeria. That the use of electronic devices and that electronic transmission of election result is doable in Nigeria. Hence following relevant recommendations were proffered, which mainly includes; Strengthening electronic devices research institutions to develop and train the critical mass manpower needs on use of electronic devices for sustainability. Signing into law the 2022 electoral amendment bill in Nigeria (due to its incorporation of use of electronic devices in the conduct of elections. To create or develop infrastructures and home-grown devices. Adopting and adapting electronic devices that are amenable to periodic updates. In furtherance of this, the Diffusion theory was applied to explain the rationale for the use of electronic devices for the conduct of election in Edo state.