Nigeria's INEC Under Pressure as Electronic Transmission of Results Remains Discretionary
The National Assembly's refusal to mandate electronic transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act has placed Nigeria's electoral commission at the centre of a heated debate over electoral integrity and technological adoption.
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Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces mounting scrutiny following the National Assembly's completion of Electoral Act amendments that stop short of making electronic transmission of election results mandatory, a decision that has sparked concerns among electoral reform advocates and civil society organizations.
The National Assembly recently harmonized differences between amendments passed by both chambers, concluding the review of the 2022 Electoral Act. However, the refusal to make electronic transmission compulsory has shifted responsibility for implementing real-time result transmission entirely to INEC's discretion, according to This Day newspaper.
President Bola Tinubu's swift endorsement of the controversial legislation has intensified debate over the future of Nigeria's electoral process. "The refusal of the National Assembly to make electronic transmission of election results compulsory, and the hasty endorsement of the controversial legislation by President Bola Tinubu, have made the Professor [INEC Chairman] the last hope," This Day reported, highlighting the electoral commission's pivotal role in determining whether technological solutions will be fully deployed in future elections.
Security Concerns and Implementation Challenges
The controversy surrounding electronic transmission gained prominence following the 25 February 2023 Presidential election, during which concerns about potential server breaches emerged. The Nation Newspaper reported that "it was not for lack of trying that hacking the INEC server during the 25 February, 2023 Presidential election was not successful," suggesting that security vulnerabilities remain a significant consideration in the electronic transmission debate.
Electoral experts have pointed to the dual challenge facing INEC: balancing the demand for transparent, real-time result transmission with the imperative to protect electoral data from cyber threats. The commission's server infrastructure came under intense scrutiny during the 2023 elections, with various stakeholders raising questions about the system's resilience against sophisticated hacking attempts.
The decision to leave electronic transmission optional rather than mandatory reflects ongoing tensions within Nigeria's political establishment about technological adoption in electoral processes. Critics argue that discretionary implementation creates opportunities for inconsistent application across different elections and regions, potentially undermining public confidence in electoral outcomes.
Implications for Electoral Transparency
Civil society organizations and electoral reform advocates have expressed disappointment that the amended Electoral Act does not mandate electronic transmission, viewing it as a missed opportunity to strengthen electoral integrity. The Nation Newspaper cautioned stakeholders about "tempering ebullience with reason" regarding the Electoral Act amendments, suggesting that expectations for comprehensive reform may need adjustment given the legislative outcome.
The discretionary nature of electronic transmission places INEC in a politically sensitive position, as any decision to deploy or withhold the technology in specific elections could face accusations of bias. The commission must navigate competing pressures from political parties, civil society, and international election observers, all of whom have different perspectives on the appropriate balance between technological innovation and electoral security.
Nigeria's experience with electronic transmission reflects broader challenges facing African electoral management bodies as they attempt to modernize voting systems while addressing concerns about infrastructure reliability, cybersecurity, and political interference. Similar debates have occurred in Kenya, Ghana, and other African democracies grappling with the transition from manual to electronic result management systems.
Path Forward for Electoral Reform
With the legislative framework now settled, attention shifts to INEC's implementation strategy for upcoming elections. The commission faces pressure to demonstrate that its result transmission systems can withstand both technical failures and deliberate attacks while maintaining public trust in the electoral process.
Electoral analysts suggest that INEC's decisions regarding electronic transmission in forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections will serve as critical tests of the commission's independence and technical capacity. The outcomes of these elections may influence future legislative efforts to revisit the question of mandatory electronic transmission.
The amended Electoral Act's passage also raises questions about Nigeria's commitment to electoral modernization in line with international best practices. While the legislation preserves INEC's authority to deploy electronic transmission, the absence of a statutory mandate may limit the commission's ability to secure adequate funding and political support for system upgrades and security enhancements.
As Nigeria prepares for its next electoral cycle, INEC's handling of result transmission technology will likely remain a focal point for domestic and international observers assessing the credibility of the country's democratic processes. The commission's ability to navigate these competing pressures while maintaining electoral integrity will significantly impact public confidence in Nigeria's democratic institutions.