Restoring Voter Confidence in Upcoming Elections

Nigeria’s 2023 general elections ushered in a new crop of political officeholders. However, some off-cycle elections are yet to be conducted and are slated for November 2023. The periodic conduct of this remains the same as every four years. However, apart from incidents of violence, and allegations of malpractice that have often played out, attempts at credible polls made the 2023 general elections differ from previous ones through the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The BVAS was expected to reshape Nigeria’s electoral process.

The expectations of the 2023 general elections, which will be devoid of voter suppression, electoral violence and malpractice, were arguably dashed with reports from various regions in the country. It contradicts the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ‘s plan for transparent and smooth polls. Also, it has cast doubts on the overall legitimacy of the election results, which some candidates are currently contesting in court. Therefore, while eyes are fixated on the upcoming off-cycle elections, the occurrences in the 2023 general elections and controversies remain ever-fresh in the minds of many Nigerians.

As done in the 2023 general elections, the intended deployment of 11,355 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo states aims to ensure transparency and eliminate discrepancies. However, the 2023 general elections were marred by the malfunction of the BVAS, amongst other allegations of result manipulations in some locations nationwide, which raises the question of whether necessary steps have been taken to address future reoccurrence. Assurances have been made by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over recognising and rectifying identified issues before the off-cycle elections. Given the controversy surrounding the general elections, the conduct and outcome of these impending off-cycle polls will undoubtedly impact INEC’s image and credibility. It will also affect voter apathy in Nigeria.

Against this backdrop, the need to restore voter confidence in the Nigerian electoral process cannot be over-emphasised. INEC needs to identify and address all areas that may have hindered the smooth operation of the 2023 general elections, such as poor logistics, allegations of malpractice and disenfranchisement. Furthermore, INEC and security agencies should rebuild their image during the off-cycle elections by curtailing and eliminating factors that question their integrity. Violence frequently results from accusations of rigging and bias involving the electoral body and security organisations. The reputations of INEC and, to some degree, security agencies for maintaining neutrality during the 2023 general elections were significantly punctured. It is expected that they rebuild their image with the off-cycle elections. Any action or inaction that questions the election integrity should be avoided. This should include how and whom it uses for logistics, strategic communications, and response to emergent issues. It also means preventing all the issues witnessed during the February-March 2023 general elections.

Furthermore, as with many electoral activities, some stakeholders may have reservations about the processes and outcomes, of which the Nigerian constitution allows dissatisfied candidates to seek redress in court. The court becomes another institution that can impact voters’ confidence and restore public trust in the electioneering process in the event of perceived irregularities.

Conclusively, Nigeria must make meaningful efforts to address voter suppression, electoral violence and the crisis of election integrity through scaled-up security before, during and after the polls. Also, as a method for ensuring the integrity of the country’s election process, the electoral commission should be free of undue political interference, sufficiently funded, and staffed with skilled experts capable of performing their tasks efficiently.

Recommended Reading

• Nigeria’s Off-Cycle Elections and the Impending Violence
• Political Economy of Elections in Nigeria: Costs and Benefits
• Elections Violence in Nigeria: When Data and Perceptions Fail to Add Up (Part 1)
• Elections Violence in Nigeria: When Data and Perceptions Fail to Add Up (Part 2)