Former INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, has warned that Nigeria is not yet ready for full electronic voting due to critical gaps in infrastructure and technological capacity. Speaking at The Platform in Lagos during Democracy Day commemorations, Jega stressed the need for a cautious and realistic approach to integrating technology into the country’s electoral process.
“We have to understand the need to make haste slowly,” he said, pointing to poor internet penetration and unreliable service, especially in rural areas, as major obstacles. He contrasted Nigeria’s situation with Estonia’s, noting that the European country’s small size and robust digital infrastructure make its internet-based voting model unfit for direct replication in Nigeria.
Jega also highlighted Nigeria’s dependence on foreign equipment and lack of domestic manufacturing as a vulnerability. He cited India—a technologically advanced democracy—which still relies on mechanical voting rather than electronic systems.
He reminded the audience that after the 2015 elections, expectations were high for e-voting by 2019, but Nigeria has yet to make the needed investments. “Everybody recognises the need to upscale technology, but we must ensure there are solid steps, otherwise we won’t get the value,” Jega warned.
