Abuja – The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said it would deploy more broadband facilities that would create necessary environment for the adoption of electronic voting in the country.
Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this known at the 12th Public Lecture of The Electoral Institute (TEI) owned by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Danbatta said that NCC planned to deploy broadband facilities in all major cities and rural areas of the country, explaining that the plan was in line with Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan.
He said that e-voting would not only improve on the efficacy and the confidence in the Nigeria’s electoral process but would also translate into free, fair and credible elections.
He said that the current paper ballot system of voting was “susceptible to human errors and influences.’’
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According to him, the situation led INEC to the use of ICT platforms for biometric registration and authentication prior to voting during the 2015 election, which significantly improved the democratic process.
“During these elections, card readers generally failed to verify fingerprints; this was attributed to the ICT platforms.
“To address this from our part, the NCC and INEC have rolled out an agenda.
“These include facilitating broadband penetration, improving quality of service, and promoting ICT innovation and investment opportunities.
”The need to foster methods that will address problems in our voting system has led TEI to explore e-voting which depends on ICT platforms for its operations,” Danbatta said.
He said that the next general elections in the country would depend heavily on the infrastructure that NCC was putting in place.
He added that the infrastructure needed to support the adoption of electronic voting in Nigeria was at “formatic stage.”
“That is why government is interested in deploying more and more infrastructure, including improving on what we have on ground.”
Speaking, Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said that it was commendable that African countries were adopting the use of technology to improve on their electoral processes.
Yakubu, who was represented by a National Commissioner of INEC, Hajia Amina Zakari, said that the measure had reduced the level of tension and crisis in elections in the countries.
“The use of technology had made elections more acceptable and reduced post election conflicts.
“However, if you are not careful in the use of technology, the process can be truncated,’’ Yakubu said, and expressed optimism that the lecture would add value to the country’s electoral process. (NAN)
