NIGERIA‟S ELECTORAL SYSTEM IN NEED OF SCIENTIFIC UPGRADE FOR SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFULLY ACCEPTED OUTCOME.

Abstract

World-over, the conduct of general elections are made easier through the use of scientific and technological devices. Countries with greater populations around the world employ electronic means of voting and counting, such that elections are easily conducted with faster, credible and acceptable results. Nigeria has remained with its traditional system which is outdated, non-fashionable and crude manual devices. No doubt such elections results are bound to be unacceptable, and also contested at tribunals. Free, fair and credible electioneering processes might continue to elude Nigeria for years to come. On this platform, I wish to propose an establishment of scientific and technological methods be adopted in Nigeria. The case emanating from fraud elections, manipulation of voting processes and declaration of rigged results would lead to voter‟s apathy, it could result in violence and subsequent death of innocent people. More advanced countries with larger populations like India, Indonesia and United State of America etc conduct their elections electronically, the processes there are generally acceptable. They are devoid of manipulations. Why would Nigeria not adopt such scientific technological systems? Nigeria has grown over the years and has become the leading Nation in Africa, we stand as role models to smaller African countries, and ironically the level of our development has not been fully harnessed. Talents abound, human resources are plentiful and the push for our advancement are still untapped. This paper therefore, wishes to seek ways of improving our electioneering processes for more acceptable and credibly worked systems in Nigeria. This paper calls for an electronic voting process in Nigeria.