CARD READERS ON ELECTION CREDIBILITY
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CARD READERS ON ELECTION CREDIBILITY
CHAPITRE ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The use of card readers in Nigeria’s 2015 general election increased transparency and legitimacy in the country’s electoral process (Okonji, 2015). Many Nigerians, particularly politicians,
were passionately opposed to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) intention to install card reader machines for the March 28 and April 11 2015 general elections.
They believed that the country had not yet advanced to the point where such technology could be used in elections. Furthermore, they believed that the deployment of card readers would disrupt the entire democratic process.
The public outpouring of opposition to the proposed introduction of card reader machines was enough to deter INEC from proceeding. However, due to INEC’s confidence in the efficacy of modern technologies in achieving quick results,
as well as its vision to transform the country’s electoral process from its old norms, which were characterised by ballot box snatching and a multiplicity of ballot tomb-printing, INEC went ahead and implemented the technology against all odds (Vanguard, 2015).
Many technology professionals in Nigeria and abroad who witnessed the elections, however, praised INEC for insisting on the use of card reader machines, calling it the best thing that has ever occurred to the Nigerian electoral process in terms of election transparency.
They have urged the electoral umpire to use card reader technology in future elections, saying that it is the only way to ensure transparency and legitimacy in every election.
The process of selecting a candidate for public office is known as election. Elections are an important part of any democratic society. As a result of its return to democratic government and participation in the political process, Nigeria had general elections in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015.
General elections are held throughout the country for federal and state elective seats (The Electoral Institute, 2015). The 2015 presidential election appears to have been the most hotly contested in Nigerian electoral history because it was the first time that four major opposition parties joined forces to form a very strong party,
the All Progressive Congress (APC), in order to challenge the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the polity. Indeed, the election has become the sole game in town, driving and changing public discourse and political acts, according to Omotola (2013).
Prior to the 2015 general elections, the new leadership (headed by Prof AttairuJega) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election management body empowered by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to organise,
conduct, and supervise all elections in Nigeria, embarked on a number of technologically based reforms (e.g. biometric Register of Voters, Advanced Fingerprints Identification System).
Despite INEC’s trust in the deployment of card readers in the 2015 general elections, the devices presented certain issues, even though the polls were mainly seen as a success.
For example, during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country, some polling locations’ card readers failed, causing an unnecessary delay in the accreditation process.
It did, however, perform flawlessly in other polling units. The difficulties ranged from card readers rejecting the permanent voter’s card (PVC), difficulty to take biometrics from finger tips,
to irregular capturing and rapid battery drain. INEC staff were forced to quit their polling stations and return the card readers to their headquarters for correct configuration.
INEC ordered the use of a manual accreditation process to salvage the situation, which was getting increasingly frustrating. However, before the order could be sent throughout the states and local government areas,
it was too late to perform accreditation and actual voting in some locations, forcing INEC to postpone the process till the following day in all impacted areas.
Concerned about the enormous electoral fraud experienced in previous Nigerian general elections, INEC deployed the card reader in the 2015 general elections to ensure a credible, transparent, free, and fair election in order to develop Nigeria’s electoral democracy.
The use of electronic devices in the 2015 general elections, on the other hand, sparked debate among election stakeholders before, during, and after the polls.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The presidential election in 2015 was the closest since the country’s post-1999 transition to multi-party democracy (International Republican Institute, 2015). The election is the most politically charged in Nigeria’s electoral democracy’s history.
Huge resources were spent on the elections, including 120 billion naira spent by INEC, 750,000 ad hoc election staff, and over 360,000 security personnel, as well as the use of card readers to ensure credibility and transparency.
The presidential election had fourteen candidates from various political parties. However, the PDP’s (Dr. Goodluck Jonathan) and APC’s (General Muhammadu Buhari) nominees were the main rivals in the election. The researcher, on the other hand, is out to investigate the card readers on election legitimacy (problems and prospects) in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s objectives:
1. To investigate the influence of card readers on election legitimacy (problems and potential) in Nigeria.
2. To assess the card reader’s dependability during the electoral process.
3. To determine the limitations in the usage of card readers in Nigerian elections.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. How do card readers affect election credibility (problems and prospects)?
2. How reliable is the card reader during the electoral process?
3. What are the limitations of using a card reader in Nigerian elections?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
In Nigeria, there is no substantial association between card readers and the integrity of the 2015 presidential election.
In Nigeria, there is a substantial relationship between card readers and the credibility of the 2015 presidential election.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s implications:
1. The findings of this study will educate the general public on the advantages of using a card reader for elections.
2. This research will also serve as a resource base for other academics and researchers interested in conducting additional research in this sector in the future, and if implemented, will go so far as to provide new explanations for the topic.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study on the role of card readers on election credibility (problems and prospects) in Nigeria will address the processes involved in the conduct of the 2015 presidential election, with a special emphasis on the influence of the card reader on the election outcome.
LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
Financial constraint- A lack of funds tends to restrict the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection procedure (internet, questionnaire, and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will conduct this investigation alongside other academic activities. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.
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