INEC WILL CONTINUE TO DEEPEN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR BETTER ELECTIONS – PROF GUMUS
Oru Leonard
A National Commissioner, Professor Rhoda Gumus, who is also the Chairperson of the Commission’s Planning and Monitoring Committee, has underscored the important role of technology in the electoral process.
The National Commissioner, said the place of technology in delivering free, fair, credible and widely accepted elections cannot be overemphasized, even as she reaffirmed the Commission’s determination to sustain the introduction of innovative technology driven ideas and policies that will deepen democracy in the country.
Professor Gumus, spoke highly of the transformation technology has brought to Nigeria’s democracy, when she received a delegation from the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) on Wednesday, 11th May, 2022, at the Commission’s Headquarters, Abuja.
The National Commissioner recalled how the introduction of technology in elections in the country, especially with the Smart Card Reader in 2015, has revolutionized the conduct and credibility of elections. She said “conducting elections in modern day has become freer, more credible, and more transparent using technology and this has come to stay.
She reaffirmed INECs determination to continue to improve the process with relevant technological innovations which will engender confidence in the process.
Professor Gumus explained that the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has eliminated malpractices in the electoral process, giving it more credibility.
Professor Gumus assured the visitors that she will bring to bear her expertise and experience as an engineer to add value and ensure credibility of the electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Engr. Chief Sokari James Karimo observed that “the electoral process in Nigeria today is a migration from the traditional analogue process of administration to a technology driven process”.
He said the Nigeria Society of Engineers conducts elections yearly using electronic technology. According to him; “you can vote from any part of the world as long as you’re an accredited member of NSE”, and added that “we look forward as you progress that elections will be migrated to purely electronic.”
Engr. Karimo expressed optimism that in the near future the Nigerian electoral process would be fully automated. He said; “We look forward to seeing in the nearest future where the electioneering activities in Nigeria will completely be electronic and off course, that can only be driven by engineers”.
He further assured of the Society’s willingness to collaborate with the Commission to ensure elections in Nigeria are free, fair, credible and transparent.
(INEC BULLETIN)
Image Credit: ICVR
