From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
A digital technology expert and Chief Executive Officer of Uplinx Digital Innovations Limited, Timothy Ajekigbe, has said Nigeria, has the technological capacity to adopt electronic voting, arguing that political will, rather than technology, remains the major obstacle to its implementation.
Ajekigbe, who has consistently advocated the use of technology to strengthen democratic institutions and improve the credibility of elections, said electronic voting could enhance transparency, inclusiveness and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process if properly designed and implemented.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Ilorin, he said the country already possessed the technological resources required to introduce electronic voting, but political leaders must be willing to accept the outcome of elections based on the votes cast by citizens.
“I believe electronic voting is doable in Nigeria. With the level of technology we have today, I believe we have what it takes to implement it. What we need is the political will to ensure that the freedom of the people is respected and that their votes truly count,” he said.
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Ajekigbe attributed part of the resistance to electoral reforms, to the fear among some politicians that a genuinely free and fair electoral process could threaten their political positions.
“In my own opinion, some politicians are afraid that if we have free and fair elections, many of them may not be voted for. They are afraid of losing their seats, and because of this, they sometimes create an environment where elections can be rigged or manipulated,” he said.
He maintained that if political actors were genuinely committed to accepting the choices of voters, there would be little reason to resist electronic voting.
“If all of us are genuinely ready to abide by the votes cast by the people, I believe we will embrace electronic voting. The technology is there. What we need is the political will and commitment to make it work,” Ajekigbe said.
On voter apathy, the technology expert said electronic voting could encourage greater participation by reducing some of the challenges associated with physical polling centres.
According to him, concerns over violence and insecurity discourage some Nigerians from going to polling units, adding that technology could provide safer and more convenient alternatives for eligible voters.
“Electronic voting can encourage more people to participate. Some citizens deliberately stay away from polling centres because of fear of violence and other security concerns. If we embrace electronic voting and address these concerns, we can encourage more Nigerians to participate in elections,” he said.
Ajekigbe, however, acknowledged that electronic voting alone would not automatically eliminate all forms of electoral malpractice, but argued that it could significantly strengthen the integrity of the process.
“I believe it can significantly strengthen the integrity of the electoral process. People will have greater confidence that the votes they cast are the votes being counted, rather than something different from what they gave,” he said.
He also said electronic voting could make elections more inclusive by creating opportunities for eligible Nigerians who are away from their registered polling areas, or even outside the country, to participate.
“This can increase voter participation and make the electoral process more inclusive, particularly for Nigerians who may be away from their registered polling areas or outside the country,” he explained.
On the challenge of poor internet connectivity, particularly in rural communities, Ajekigbe said inadequate network coverage should not be regarded as an insurmountable obstacle.
“It could be a challenge, but it is not a challenge that cannot be solved. We have satellite connectivity and other technologies that can be deployed in areas where there is poor network coverage,” he said.
He added that some electronic voting technologies could be designed to process voting information offline before transmitting the data when connectivity becomes available.
“There are also technologies that can allow voting-related information to be processed offline and uploaded when the device gets to an area with network connectivity. So, we can explore different technological solutions to address the challenge,” Ajekigbe added.
Addressing concerns about voters with limited literacy or digital skills, he said electronic voting systems should be designed with simplicity and accessibility in mind.
“There are people who are illiterate, but I believe many of them still make phone calls. So, the system can be designed in a very simple way, where voters are guided to press a particular number or follow simple instructions,” he said.
According to him, the success of electronic voting would depend not only on the availability of technology but also on adequate planning, investment, security and public trust.
“The major requirement is political will. We also need proper planning, investment, security and a system that people can trust. If we put all these things in place and allow the votes of the people to count, electronic voting can work in Nigeria,” he said.
Ajekigbe urged political leaders to demonstrate greater commitment to technology-driven electoral reforms, stressing that the ultimate objective should be to give Nigerians the opportunity to freely determine who governs them.
“Political leaders should be willing to embrace technology and allow the people to decide who governs them. Nigeria has the technological capacity to conduct credible elections. What we need is the commitment to deploy that technology in the interest of the people,” he said.
He further challenged political actors to look beyond fears of losing elections and focus on strengthening the country’s democratic institutions.
“If we are genuinely prepared to accept election outcomes based on the votes of Nigerians, then there should be no reason to be afraid of electronic voting,” Ajekigbe said.
He called on Nigerians to support the adoption of appropriate technology in elections while insisting that adequate safeguards must be established to protect the credibility and security of the process.
“My message is that we should embrace technology and allow the people to decide who governs them. Electronic voting is achievable in Nigeria. We have the technology, but we need the political will, proper planning and commitment to make it work,” he said.
