The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has promised that the Electoral Management Body will continue to deepen its application of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process as it records 4.2 registered voters through its online portal.

Addressing journalists during a strategic interactive meeting with Online Publishers in Lagos on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said INEC is determined to deepen the use of technology and reduce human intervention in the critical stages of the electoral process.

He listed some of the Commission’s processes that have been replaced by technology to include; submission and processing of nomination forms and other applications. He said since the 2019 general election, the following activities are now conducted either partially or entirely online through dedicated portals; voter pre-registration; nomination of candidates for election by political parties; submission of list of polling and collation agents by political parties; accreditation of national and international observers for election; and accreditation of media organisations for elections.

He was satisfied that Nigerians have fully embraced INEC’s technological innovations and are taking full advantage of the services available on the portal. “As at November 22, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) platform had recorded a total 4,297,494 fresh registrants while 1,856,771 registrants have validated their application. Other innovations include the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal.

Commenting on the Anambra Governorship election, Prof Yakubu said despite the glitches associated with the Commission’s deployment of BVAS, “it has strengthened our belief that even the minimal introduction of technology in voter accreditation is better than the best manual process

“This has also justified the hope of citizens across the country that the deployment of more appropriate technology is essential to electoral integrity in Nigeria” he said,

On the direct primary clause in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill awaiting President Buhari’s signature, Prof Yakubu said “once the process is concluded, the Bill becomes law and every person and authority in Nigeria, including the Commission, must obey. The Commission will give expeditious consideration to the law, including the detailed regulations and guidelines for its implementation where necessary”

Welcoming participants to the media parley, Barr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education stated five objectives of the strategic interaction with the media. These include deepening journalists’ understanding of the constitutional and legal mission and mandate of the Commission both as an Umpire and regulator. Others are to improve the working knowledge of the roles of INEC and that journalists must understand that preparations for elections, the conduct of elections and resolution of electoral disputes are in a class of their own and cannot be discussed and analysed from a generic point of view.

In his remarks, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Ogunkanmi said the purpose of the engagement with Online Publishers is to forge a strong alliance with the media where information on INEC’s workings and challenges can be shared and feedback obtained from the media.

The INEC engagement was in conjunction with the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Institute for Media and Society and the two organisations were fully represented.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director, International Press Centre noted that INEC under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu has continuously demonstrated the willingness to improve on the conduct of elections as evidenced in its support for technologically driven polling especially the electronic transmission of results.

It was such resolve that “strengthened the position of the media and civil society during the debates on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill such that the National Assembly had to bow to our wish that the discretion to electronically transmit results should lie with INEC in order to preserve its independence”.

With the National Assembly having conceded to our aspirations in this regard, it is now left for us in the media to charge President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the bill in time to enable fuller deployment of technology in forthcoming elections, Mr. Arogundade submitted.

Speaking along the same line, Dr. Akin Akingbulu said the IMS has been active in the engagement of constitutional and legislative reform processes which affect the media sector. “For example, we submitted memoranda to the National Assembly on the review of media–related provisions in the constitution and the Electoral Bill and amendment of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).