Yakubu, however, admitted that its introduction improved elections in the country.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has advised Nigerians thinking that deployment of technology will end the flaws in Nigeria’s elections to have a rethink.
He gave the advice in a newly released book titled, ‘Election Management in Nigeria: 2015–2025′.
The 200-page publication offered a detailed account of the commission’s operations, achievements, and setbacks under Yakubu’s watch.
Describing the book as “the first, most comprehensive record of these milestones, lessons and challenges of [his] two-term tenure,” the ex-INEC chairman, who wrote the forward, reflected on a decade he called one of the most significant in the history of election management in Nigeria.
He also acknowledged the limitations of technology, noting that while it had advanced the process, it was not a panacea.
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“The decade between 2015 – 2025 has been one of the most momentous in the history of the management of elections in Nigeria.
“There have been several milestones, many challenges and useful lessons in the conduct of elections and the management of the process within this period.
“Additionally, technical challenges with equipment and connectivity failures have sometimes hindered the smooth conduct of elections,” he said.
Yakubu added that while he was in the saddle, INEC responded to the challenges by undertaking a series of reforms, including intensified voter education, training for electoral officials, and closer collaboration with security agencies to ensure the safety of voters and personnel.
He further noted that policies were also developed to guide the deployment of electoral technology.
