The Effect Of Card Readers On Election Credibility In Nigeria (A Case Study Of 2015 Presidential Elections)

Project and Seminar Material for Political Science

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the effect of card readers on election credibility in Nigeria using the 2015 presidential elections as a case study. Specifically, the study was aimed at examining the effect of card readers on the election credibility in Nigeria; examine the reliability of the card reader during the electoral process; and identify the limitations in the use of the card reader for elections in Nigeria. The study employed the survey descriptive research design. A total of 30 responses were validated from the survey where all respondent wereresidents of the three senatorial districts of Kaduna State. From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings revealed that The card reader is a reliable machine during elections; There are limitations to the use of the card reader machines for elections in Nigeria; 2015 general elections were credible largely due to the card readers; There is a significant relationship between card readers and 2015 presidential election credibility in Nigeria; Card readers help to minimize election rigging in Nigeria. The study therefore recommend Massive enlightenment and sensitization through social media especially the rural dwellers because if you are not informed you will be misinformed and when you are misinformed you cannot perform. Also, extensive and Intensive training of man power personnel who will handle the card reader or its equivalent perfectly well in the future election. Moreso, electronic accreditations of permanent voter cards of the electorates should be included in the Nigeria Constitution to address the issue of legality of card reader or its equivalent in our future elections since Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the creation of law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background to the Study

The use of card readers at the 2015 general election in Nigeria has infused some level of transparency and credibility into Nigeria’s electoral process (Okonji, 2015). It was observed that when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) first announced its plan to introduce card reader machine for the March 28 and April 11 2015 general elections, many Nigerians, especially politicians, vehemently opposed to it. They felt the country has not developed to a level where such technology can be employed for elections. Besides, they felt the uses of card reader would disrupt the entire electoral processes.

The public outcry that greeted the planned introduction of card reader machines was enough to discourage INEC from introducing it. However, because of INEC confidence in the efficacy of modern technologies in achieving quick results, coupled with its vision to transform the country’s electoral process from its old norms that was characterized by ballot box snatching and multiplicity of ballot tomb-printing, INEC went ahead and introduced the technology against all odds (Vanguard, 2015). However, many technology experts in Nigeria and outside, who monitored the elections are full of praises for INEC for insisting on the use of card reader machines, saying it is the best thing that has ever happened to the Nigerian electoral process in the area of election transparency. They have called on the electoral umpire to introduce card reader machines in subsequent elections, believing it is a sure way to achieve transparency and credibility in every election.

Election is the process of choosing a candidate for public office. Election is a critical component of any democratic society. As such, Nigeria’s returned to democratic rule and engagement with the democratic process led to the conduct of its general elections in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015. General elections are elections conducted in the federation at large for federal and state elective positions (The Electoral Institute, 2015). The 2015 presidential election appears to be the most keenly contested in the history of elections in Nigeria because it was the first time about four major opposition parties came together to form a very strong party, All Progressive Congress (APC) in order to challenge the dominance of the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the polity. Indeed, according to Omotola (2013), the election became the only game in town, shaping and reshaping public discourse and political actions.

Prior to the 2015 general elections, a number of technologically based reforms (e.g. biometric Register of Voters, Advanced Fingerprints Identification System) were embarked upon by the new leadership (headed by Prof Attairu Jega) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the election management body empowered by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to organize, undertake and supervise all elections in Nigeria.

However, despite the confidence of INEC in the use of card reader in the 2015 general elections, the machines came with some challenges, even though the elections have been widely adjudged as being successful. For instance, during the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country, the card readers malfunctioned in several polling units, a situation that caused undue delay in the accreditation process. It, however, worked perfectly in other polling units. The challenges ranged from rejection of permanent voter’s card (PVC) by the card readers, inability to capture the biometrics from finger tips, to irregular capturing and fast battery drainage. INEC officials have to abandon their polling units and took the card readers back to their office for proper configuration. In order to salvage the situation, which was almost becoming frustrating, INEC ordered the use of manual process for accreditation, But before the order could go round the states and local government areas, it was already late to conduct accreditation and actual voting in some areas, a situation that forced INEC to extend the exercise to the next day in all affected areas.

Concerned about the massive electoral fraud witnessed in the past general elections in Nigeria, INEC deployment of the card reader in 2015 general elections was to ensure a credible, transparent, free and fair election in order to deepen Nigeria’s electoral democracy. However, the used of the electronic device in the 2015 general elections generated debate among election stakeholders before, during and after the elections.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The 2015 presidential election was the closest electoral contest since the country’s post-1999 transition to multi-party democracy (International Republican Institute, 2015). The election is the most politically engaged in the history of electoral democracy in Nigeria. Huge resources were used for the elections including 120 billion naira expended by INEC, 750,000 ad-hoc election staff with over 360,000 security personnel including the use of card readers to ensure credibility and transparency. The presidential election was contested by fourteen candidates from different political parties. However, the candidates of the PDP (Dr Goodluck Jonathan) and APC (General Muhammadu Buhari) were the major contenders in the election. However, the researcher is out to examine the effect of card readers on the election credibility in Nigeria.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The following are the objectives of this study:

To examine the effect of card readers on the election credibility in Nigeria.
To examine the reliability of the card reader during the electoral process.
To identify the limitations in the use of the card reader for elections in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

What is the effect of card readers on the election credibility in Nigeria?
What is the reliability of the card reader during the electoral process?
What are the limitations in the use of the card reader for elections in Nigeria?

1.5 Hypothesis

HO: There is no significant relationship between card readers and 2015 presidential election credibility in Nigeria
HA: There is significant relationship between card readers and 2015 presidential election credibility in Nigeria

1.6 Significance of the Study

The following are the significance of this study:

The outcome of this study will educate the general public on the benefits of the use of card reader for elections.
This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic.

1.7 Scope / Limitations of the Study

This study on the effect of card readers on the election credibility in Nigeria will cover the processes involved in the conduct of 2015 presidential election with special focus on the influence of the card reader on the outcome of the election.

Limitations of Study

Financial constraint

Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint

The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

Chapter Five

Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Conclusion

In this study, our focus was to examine the effect of card readers on election credibility in Nigeria using the 2015 presidential elections as a case study. The study specifically was aimed at examining the effect of card readers on the election credibility in Nigeria; examine the reliability of the card reader during the electoral process; and identify the limitations in the use of the card reader for elections in Nigeria.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 30 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are residents of the three senatorial districts of Kaduna State.

The findings revealed that:

The card reader is a reliable machine during elections.
There are limitations to the use of the card reader machines for elections in Nigeria.
2015 general elections were credible largely due to the card readers.
There is a significant relationship between card readers and 2015 presidential election credibility in Nigeria.
Card readers help to minimize election rigging in Nigeria.

5.2 Recommendation

Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:

Massive enlightenment and sensitization through social media especially the rural dwellers because if you are not informed you will be misinformed and when you are misinformed you cannot perform.
Extensive and Intensive training of man power personnel who will handle the card reader or its equivalent perfectly well in the future election.
Electronic accreditations of permanent voter cards of the electorates should be included in the Nigeria Constitution to address the issue of legality of card reader or its equivalent in our future elections since Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the creation of law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
Timeliness: the proximity of the election must be considered before the test run and the issues identified must be addressed before the general election.
The card reader or its equivalent in our future election must be scrutinized by the expert to ensure that the issue of non-activation of the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card does not occur again.
Coincidentally, the inbuilt security installation should be decoded by the INEC engineers or experts to avoid malfunctioning of the machine.
The INEC adhoc and permanent staff should be adequately paid and on time as an incentive to do the job effectively and efficiently.
Selection of the personnel who will participate in the operation of the machine should be base on merit. Of course there should be an examination after training and only those who pass the examination will be selected for the job.
The training should be conducted in a conducive environment.
There must be sufficient card readers or its equivalent during the training period to enable the trainees to participate in the practical demonstration of the machine.

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