Ohuabunwa Advocates Electronic Voting in Elections

Nseobong Okon-Ekong

The Convener of the New Nigeria Group (NNG), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has advocated the adoption of electronic voting in future elections in Nigeria in order to guarantee a fool-proof voting system.

Ohuabunwa, who plans to contest the presidential election in 2023, said the technology-driven voting template would protect the integrity and credibility of the electoral process in Nigeria.

Nigeria has been fiddling with the idea of adopting electronic voting and transmission of results in emulation of countries where it has helped to eliminate electoral fraud. But recently, in the National Assembly, the idea failed to sail through after majority of the senators voted against it as not workable in Nigeria.

However, Ohuabunwa, accor-ding to a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Sir Ernie Onwumere, insisted that electronic voting and transmission of results is achievable in Nigeria.

He cited an instance in Nigeria where it has worked, though on a pilot scale.

According to him, “For example, Kaduna State conducted elections with an electronic voting system in 2018. That was the first time anyone in Nigeria would adopt electronic voting, and the second case of electronic voting in Africa, after Namibia.

“That year, the then extant law- the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission Act No. 10 of 2012-was amended to establish electronic voting in Section 16 (3) thereof. There were allegations of multiple voting and other challenges, but that did not deter the state government.

“The latest was the September 4, 2021, local government elections held in Kaduna State, where electronic voting was adopted. It might not have been adjudged perfect, but it was by far better than situations where figures were brazenly and manually manipulated.”

Ohuabunwa, therefore, commended the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for allowing the system to work in the state without his interference, noting that the All Progressives Congress (APC) also lost the election in El-Rufia’s polling unit.

Emphasising that it would be a Herculean task for desperate politicians to compromise the electronic voting system, Ohuabunwa also disclosed that he had actually advocated e-voting in 2010 in his book titled: ‘Nigeria: Need for Evolution of a New Nation’.

Implying that he is not just jumping on the current bandwagon of electronic voting proponents, the NNG convener made reference to page 86 of his aforementioned book. On the referenced page, he had reasoned that the adoption of electronic voting system would help eliminate the need for ballot boxes, curb multiple voting, and reduce costly logistic and manpower burdens during elections.