Computer Society Welcomes INEC’s eVoting Plan

Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its plan to fully adopt electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.

Prof. Adesina Sodiya, president, NCS, in a statement, expressed the society’s support of the decision, which was made known by the commission last month, in its policy document on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sodiya said, “NCS is indeed happy with the current position of the electoral umpire to work towards the full introduction of electronic voting in major elections starting from 2021.

“This is a decision which has been hitherto advocated by NCS and indeed, the panacea for better and transparent electoral processes.”

He pointed out that Nigerians had paid the price through electoral violence in a bid to conduct their civic duties, saying e-voting would solve the electoral challenges unlike other methods.

He said, “Certainly, e-voting will curb electoral violence, coercion, intimidation, wastage of resources and general result manipulations. It will enhance prudency, reliability and acceptability of results.

“With the current pandemic ravaging the whole world, the full adoption of e-voting for our subsequent elections in Nigeria becomes inevitable.”

The president pledged the support of NCS and Computer Professionals (Regulatory Council) of Nigeria in the full adoption of e-voting in Nigeria and expressed their willingness to partner with INEC.

He added, “The NCS and CPN are ready to partner INEC in strengthening the Information Technology capacities and capabilities of the commission for the effective realisation of the lofty plan.

“The IT community can provide the backbone for the very best in processes, technologies and people needed for planning, execution and evaluation of the e-voting system.”