INEC'S TECHNOLOGICAL FAILURES AND THE ELECTORAL TRUST DEFICIT: LESSONS FROM THE 2023 ELECTION FOR 2027
Keywords:
2023 General Election, BVAS, IReV, Electoral Integrity and Public Trust.Abstract
Nigeria's 2023 general election marked a major step in the country's electoral history with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). These technologies were introduced to improve transparency, reduce electoral fraud, and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process. However, widespread technical failures raised concerns about the credibility of the election. This study examines how technological failures during the 2023 general election contributed to declining public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and identifies lessons for improving the 2027 elections. The study adopts a qualitative research design based on secondary data obtained from INEC reports, election observer mission reports, media publications, and relevant scholarly literature. The study found that failures in electronic result transmission, system glitches, poor network connectivity, inconsistent deployment of technology across polling units, and weak communication from INEC undermined confidence in the electoral process. These shortcomings fuelled allegations of electoral manipulation, reduced citizens' trust in INEC, and weakened perceptions of electoral transparency and institutional credibility. However, the study concluded that restoring public confidence requires stronger digital infrastructure, rigorous testing of electoral technologies before elections, improved training for election officials, transparent communication during electoral operations, and independent oversight of technology deployment. Implementing these reforms will strengthen the credibility of future elections, particularly the 2027 general election.
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