As debates intensify over the proposed amendment to Nigeria's Electoral Act, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has called for a cautious, inclusive and evidence-based approach to electoral reforms, particularly on technology-driven solutions such as electronic transmission of results.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its executive director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, PAACA stressed that while electronic transmission of results is desirable and necessary, it must be grounded in the country's existing communication infrastructure to avoid creating deeper electoral challenges, that will exclude other Nigerians.
Nwagwu said that PAACA supports the use of technology to enhance transparency and credibility in elections but cautioned that reforms should not be driven by assumptions that ignore Nigeria's uneven levels of internet penetration and digital infrastructure.
"Our elections cannot be better than the infrastructure they rely on," Nwagwu said.
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He added that "It is important to properly nuance the conversation around internet penetration. We cannot discountenance that discussion. It has to be clear where electronic transmission can happen in real time and where it cannot, so we do not solve one problem and create a bigger one."
Noted that although millions of Nigerians are registered on 4G networks, the distribution of such connectivity remains largely urban-centred, raising concerns about the feasibility of real-time electronic transmission in many rural and hard-to-reach communities.
"If you have about 94 million people on 4G, the critical question is: where are they located? Are they in Kara Namoda? Are they in Okitipupa? The reality is that many of these subscribers are urban-based. We still have several backwater communities across the country where internet penetration is either very poor or completely nonexistent."
Nwagwu warned against designing electoral reforms from an urban elite perspective, stressing that Nigeria's geographical and infrastructural realities must guide policy decisions.
"Nigeria is not just Abuja, Port Harcourt, Victoria Island, or Ikoyi. The country is vast. In a state like Taraba alone, from Jalingo, there are communities where you spend five hours on the road to reach. These are realities we must confront honestly."
According to PAACA, the debate on electronic transmission should involve a holistic engagement of relevant stakeholders, particularly agencies in the communication and digital governance sectors.
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