Nigeria will be going to the polls from Saturday, February 25, 2023 and everyone is set and anticipating the elections D-day and post-event. 

Interestingly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deployed over 175,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to ensure transparency and verifiability in voter authentication and result management during the 2023 elections.

This is a good move in leveraging technology for an electoral process with high hopes of a positive outcome and further emphasis that it’s not just about the touchscreen kiosks and online voter registration.

There are plenty of ways technology can help you cast your vote—and it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. For example:

Technology has already been used in polling stations around the world to help disabled voters navigate obstacles (like ramps) so they don’t have to climb stairs or negotiate curbs. In addition, some polling places have longer lines than others; this means long wait times for those who are having difficulty walking distances due to their disability or mobility impairment. By using an app like Polldaddy!, voters can see real-time information about their local polling place on their phone before heading there themselves so they know where exactly they’ll be standing when casting their ballot!

It can go beyond the door

Electronic poll books: These are electronic records that store information about all voters in a given election. They can be used by poll workers to verify the identity of voters and their eligibility to vote, or they can be used by candidates’ campaign staff to make sure their volunteers have been properly trained.

Electronic voter registration: This is when you fill out an online form with your personal details (name, address and date of birth), which are then stored in a database at one central location before being sent back out into the field later on during voting day so that they’re available when needed by county clerks’ offices or other election officials who may need them for various tasks like reviewing ballots cast by people who didn’t fill out proper forms on time—or even checking whether those same people actually exist!

Electronic voter identification: This allows voters who forgot their IDs at home but still want one after all due diligence has been done–because let’s face it…how many times were we all asked our ID before voting?–to get just what they need without having any trouble getting through security checkpoints at polling places around town.

It can help people with disabilities vote

It’s not just about accessibility. Technology can also help people with disabilities vote in a way that is accessible to them. For example, it would be possible for a person using a wheelchair or other mobility aid to scan their ballot electronically, rather than having to manually fill out an entire paper ballot and then turn it in at the polling place. The same goes for someone who has poor eyesight or dexterity; they could use optical scanners instead of writing on paper ballots. This will make voting easier and more secure at the same time!

It can make sure your vote counts all the way to the end of the line

At the end of the day, it’s not just about how many people cast their ballots. It’s also about making sure they count all the way up until Election Day.

The technology we have now can help ensure that this happens by automatically sending out reminders if your vote hasn’t been recorded yet (whether you’re voting early or on Election Day). It’s important because people with disabilities often get lost in the shuffle during elections—and not everyone has access to an accessible polling place or knows how to navigate it once inside one.

It can help save time and money during election season

Technology can help save time and money during election season. It can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and increase security.

Save time: With the use of technology you will be able to schedule your vote at a time that works best for you. For example, if someone lives in a rural area they may appreciate having the option of voting by mail or at their local polling place instead of having to go all the way back home after work when they get off work at night (or even before).

Reduce costs: You’ll also be able to take advantage of technology’s ability to provide better information about where we stand on issues like healthcare reform legislation—which could ultimately save taxpayers’ dollars down the road by reducing wastefulness in government spending over time!

Increase efficiency: When voters aren’t spending hours driving around town trying find somewhere open where they can cast their ballots without issue then there is less chance that voter turnout will suffer due  to lackadaisical behavior among those who do show up.

By using technology to make voting seamless, we can make voting more accessible, efficient, and secure for everyone

The next time you’re at the polls, consider this: technology can make voting seamless. By using it in the right way, we can make sure that every vote counts all the way to Election Day and beyond.

Technology is not just about making our lives easier (although that’s certainly an important part of it). It also has an impact on how accessible elections are for people with disabilities or other needs who may not be able to physically access polling places on their own. 

For example, some people need assistance getting into their cars or walking up stairs; others might have difficulty reading ballots due to poor eyesight or dyslexia; still others simply don’t want anyone else knowing what they’re doing when they vote—and those votes should count just as much as any other voters! 

Software tools that allow election officials at each precinct level across the country—and even abroad!—to track everything from attendance numbers down through each person’s ballot choices (yes/no/write-in) before finally tabulating results after everyone has voted are essential.

Conclusion

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this post, so we hope you’re feeling inspired to think about how technology can improve your election experience. We believe that making voting easier and more accessible is not just the right thing to do for disabled people or those who need help getting around; it also makes sense for everyone else! We must ensure to make sure that every person has access to their vote on Election Day—no matter where they live or what their abilities may be.

However, reports from voters in different collection centres across the country revealed that some validly registered voters were informed by the INEC officials that their PVCs were not available; while some others were asked to return on a later day beyond the deadline or after the election to collect their PVCs.

This is a breach of the Electoral Act 2022 which mandates INEC in Section 16(1) to design, print and issue voter’s cards to voters whose names appear in the register of voters. INEC also, had further committed to and promised that everyone registered and, in their database, will have their PVC provided and available for collection.

The emphasis on a deadline for collection is an indirect disenfranchisement of validly registered voters whose PVCs are not available due to INEC’s administrative lapses. Denying these voters their right to vote due to a failure on the part of INEC is unacceptable.

And to be clear, this is not only a problem in Lagos. Citizens have provided reports from Abuja, Rivers, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Ondo, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna, Borno, Sokoto, Ogun, Kano, & Kwara.

We also note the concern of the students who registered at home while tertiary institutions were shut down for over 8 months. According to INEC, 40% of the 9,518,188 newly registered voters are students. If they registered at home and are now at school, INEC must ensure they can pick up their cards in the least expensive way possible.

Reclaim Naija has received hundreds of calls and texts from its observers across the country about these challenges. With six episodes of Twitter Spaces and three Instagram Lives with different INEC officials; in addition to reports submitted through its www.rsvp.ng Complaints Portal, EiE Nigeria has supported over 10,000 voters through this PVC Collection process.

Given the reported challenges, we ask that INEC do the following:

1. Inform Nigerians if it is still printing cards and when all the cards for registered voters will be available for collection.
2. Extend PVC Collection to ensure that everyone whose cards were not found are reprinted, and there is a clear process for them to pick up the cards.
3. Work with the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure that there are no classes or exams the week before elections so students can go home to vote.
4. Communicate with newly registered voter’s especially students when the PVCs are ready.
5. Create a dedicated desk for civil society organisations, media and citizens to escalate the issues being observed for quick resolution.

The engine to drive this process is clear and proactive information sharing from INEC. There are high expectations for this election and INEC can not be seen to be deliberately or inadvertently disenfranchising certain groups of people.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

The event which aimed at reflecting on economic trends that shaped 2021 and projecting into 2022, held on Monday, 14 February 2022.

According to the financial services provider, the webinar affords participants the opportunity to learn directly from economic experts on the importance of planning and investment.

Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, and Muyiwa Oni, Head, Equity Research, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, led deliberations at the virtual event.

Other speakers at the webinar were Eric Fajemisin, Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking; Remy Osuagwu, Executive Director, Business and Commercial Clients; Executive Director Client Solutions – Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju and Olumide Oyetan, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers.

Dr. Demola Sogunle, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, set the tone for the event by appreciating the customers for the confidence and trust reposed in the organisation through their patronage.

He assured Nigerians of valuable and exciting opportunities despite the likely headwinds as the nation prepares for its general elections.

Bismarck, who enumerated the current state of the Nigerian economy, noted that Nigeria’s expenditure currently stands at N19.63 trillion while its revenue stands at N10.71 trillion.

This, he said, represented a fiscal deficit of N8.92 trillion, which translates to an increasing level of poverty, inflation, unemployment and the number of out-of-school children.

He noted that the number of fully employed Nigerians had dipped by 54.41 per cent in the last five years and the working population grew by 18.45 per cent, while 50 per cent of Nigerians remain idle.

Highlighting Nigeria’s fiscal position in five years, he noted that while oil prices increased by 62.36 per cent; currency and balance of trade weakened by 239.76 per cent and 35.95 per cent respectively, with gross external reserves gaining 39.29 per cent.

According to him, sustained supply concerns have helped to shore up global oil prices above $80 per barrel while the Central Bank of Nigeria has continued to step up its intervention programme in the forex market as the nation’s gross external reserves continue to dwindle. Also, he said, the naira has continued to witness increased pressure due to excess liquidity.

“The nation’s economy is expected to continue its rebound as witnessed in the last quarter of 2021 while oil prices are likely to remain high as major economies re-open fully and oil demand picks up.

Furthermore, the advent of COVID-19 vaccines has continued to discount the impact of Omicron on oil demand while the effect of the Iran nuclear deal is expected to push up the nation’s oil supply to the global market. This is expected to provide more support to Nigeria’s earnings,” said Bismarck.

“To boost the manufacturing sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is likely to intensify its forex intervention as it seeks to increase supply to manufacturers, Also, the CBN is expected to step up efforts towards exchange rate convergence, increase its intervention in the forex market while the postponement of the fuel subsidy removal will dampen the anticipated spike in inflation for the year as trade policies are expected to become less protectionist.”

Eric Fajemisin, Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank noted that Stanbic IBTC, through its business advisory services, has continued to help its customers make good investment decisions and provide them with business financing. Remy Osuagwu, Executive Director, Business and Commercial Clients also of Stanbic IBTC Bank said the organisation has continued to partner with the CBN in its various intervention programmes such as the Real Sector Fund, Anchor Borrowers Fund, and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), amongst others.

Olumide Oyetan, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers said that Stanbic IBTC, through its investment management vehicle, has continued to provide avenues for investors to profitably invest their funds short and long term while ensuring the safety of invested funds.

Bunmi Dayo Olagunju, Executive Director of Client Solutions, Stanbic IBTC Bank in her concluding remarks, stated that the economic ecosystem can improve during the election cycle if digital technologies can be leveraged effectively.