ICT AND ELECTION MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

THE IMPLICATION FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTION

Abstract

The paper ascertain ICT and election management in Nigeria: the implication for 2019 general election.The use of information communication technology has reduced incidence of electoral malpractices such as ballot stuffing, result sheet manipulations, over voting, alteration of result sheets and hijacking of ballot boxes in the history of Nigeria elections. These forms of electoral malpractices were subject to litigations for years after the election and this led to upturning electoral victory at the court of competent jurisdiction with tendered evidences before tribunals and other appellant Court. INEC employed a number of innovative approaches to improve on managing some past elections in Nigeria. As years pass by, INEC become more sophisticated with technologies to meet up with the demands of international standard. The paper argued that INEC took a bold step in 2011 elections to guard against multiple registrations by introducing data capturing machine. The introduction of Electronic Voters Register (EVR), Automatic Finger prints Identification System (AFIS) and Smart Card Reader (SCR) all reduced multiple registrations and voting to the barest minimum while e-collation platform reduced result manipulation at collation centers. Since the inception of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria electoral system has improved and foster credible elections in the country. It is the opinion of this paper to trace the history of election management in Nigeria and adopt documentary method concluded that ICT device can discourage multiple voting especially in 2019 general elections to guarantee voters confidence in the poll free from malpractices.