Ebirim Samuel Iheanacho PhD

Irabor Peter Odion PhD

&

Aloba Idowu Folorunso

Abstract

Electronic voting is often seen as a tool for making the electoral process more efficient and for increasing trust in its management. On February 6, 2018, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) passed the electronic election law for the introduction of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), with the aim of making elections fair and credible, and to build trust in the electoral system. This study assesses the conduct of 2018 local government elections in Kaduna State to demonstrate how electronic voting was deployed by the electoral system in the electoral process. Anchored on determinism theory, the study adopts descriptive research design and uses primary and secondary data sources. The primary data was sourced through an in-depth interview while, secondary data was sourced through internet and archive materials. Findings reveal that e-voting is fast, accurate, stress-free, and easy to use as, it will help in eliminating the errors caused by human factor. The study concludes that, there was a relative significant and positive influence of e-voting on electoral credibility all through the conduct of the 2018 Local Government elections in Kaduna State as, the party in government did not win in all the local government areas as was the norm in the previous elections where manual paper ballot system was used. The study recommends that e-voting system should be adopted in Nigeria in order to foster electoral outcomes that are free, fair and credible as, this will in turn culminate into increased political participation and foster democratic growth in Nigeria.

Key Words: Electoral System, Electronic Voting, Manual Voting, Voting, Local Government.

Introduction

Nigeria has for many years been held down by high incidence of electoral malaise manifesting in the prevalence of electoral rigging, violence and other forms of malpractices which tend to erode established electoral standards and defy the prospects of free, fair and credible elections as seen in past manual elections in the country1. In the face of the challenges that beset the Nigerian electoral process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (1NEC), which is Nigeria’s Electoral management body (EMB) since the inception of the fourth republic has been seen over time struggling to salvage the situation. This, it has done through the adoption of various strategies aimed at curtailing the preponderant electoral malpractices that has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian electoral system following the electoral reform of 20102. This clamour (the need for viable elections) is further reinforced by the fact that the existing traditional paper ballot system employed in the elections from 1999 has been exposed as being susceptible to the stable flow of electoral bigotry and democratic sabotage overtime3. As such, the traditional ballot paper, as evident in the Nigerian electoral experience, falls short of the requisite elements of credible elections such as accountability, transparency and free and fair play.

Interestingly, using technology in elections including the deployment of e-voting, is a fast emerging global trend that has been embraced by at least 21% of the 123 countries surveyed by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance4, while feasibility studies are ongoing in 57% of the countries5. The quest for better electoral practice particularly, in the aspect of voting has informed the adoption of enhanced Information Communication Technologies (ICT) into the electoral process6. Across the world, electronic voting means have been employed to increase voter’s participation, produce taintless electoral outcome,

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