An Assessment of the Impact of Technological Innovations on Electoral Credibility in Nigeria, 2015 to 2023

Oluwaseun Clement Ajay, Abraham Musa Peter, Margaret Apine

Abstract


The Nigerian government has introduced various technological innovations between 2015 and 2023, including the Smart Card Reader, Bi-modal Accreditation Voter System (BVAS), the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and the Result Transmission Platforms, to address the challenges of electoral malpractice in electoral processes. The study assesses the extent to which these technologies enhanced electoral credibility in Nigeria in 2015, 2019, and 2023. The study adopts institutional theory to assess the impact of technologies on electoral credibility in Nigeria. The study adopts a mixed-methods design, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive analysis of technological innovations and their outcomes on electoral credibility. It also relies on documentary secondary analysis, such as journal articles, election reports, academic literature, and international election observer reports. The study reveals that the introduction of technologies in elections reduces manipulations and fraud, such as multiple voting and inflated results, and other irregularities. The study also highlights infrastructure deficits, political interferences, technical failures, a weak institutional framework, insecurity, poor logistics, and vote buying that undermine the effectiveness of these technologies. These technologies have made significant progress in the 2023 general elections despite highlighted gaps. The study concludes that technologies are necessary in the election process, but cannot ensure electoral credibility until complemented by strong political will, legal and institutional reforms, and public engagement. The study recommends civic education, transparency, and efficiency of technology and strong institutions.

Keywords


Assessment; Electoral credibility; General elections; Innovations; Technologies

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/14011

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