11 December 2025
Nigeria’s top election official has warned that the nation’s fragile telecommunications network remains a “formidable obstacle” to electoral transparency, despite the commission’s successful technology drive to combat rigging. Addressing a major Civil Society Stakeholders’ Forum on Elections in Abuja, Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that new electoral technology is only as good as the network it runs on.
The UK’s Development Director in Nigeria, Cynthia Rowe, also addressed the forum, declaring that civil society groups are the “lifeblood of Nigeria’s democracy” and urging stakeholders to consolidate democratic gains ahead of upcoming elections.
The forum, hosted by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, centred on the theme: “Securing Nigeria’s Democracy: Building Consensus for Credible Elections and Accountable Governance.”
INEC: Technology and the Connectivity Gap
Professor Amupitan championed the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal as key technological steps that have created a “new baseline for trust” by preventing over-voting and opening results to public scrutiny. However, he cautioned that technology is not a “panacea,” particularly in a nation where many of the over 176,000 Polling Units are in remote, poorly connected areas.”A tool like the BVAS is only as good as the network it runs on,” the Chairman stated, adding that achieving real-time upload of all results to the IReV remains “one of our toughest operational battles.” He committed INEC to building system redundancy and exploring alternative technologies to bridge the connectivity gap. The Chairman also confronted the issue of low voter turnout, which stood at just over 27% in the 2023 General Elections. He cited a recent success in Anambra State, where proactive civic education and PVC collection drives boosted collection rates to nearly 99% of registered voters, demonstrating what is possible when there is active consensus and partnership with civil society. He confirmed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise has recorded over 2.6 million completed registrations nationwide and announced that the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is scheduled for Saturday, 21st February 2026.
UK Hails Civil Society’s Vital Role
In her address, Cynthia Rowe, Development Director for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), commended the Situation Room’s leadership, including Convener Y.Z. Yau, for bringing stakeholders together. Ms. Rowe stressed that democracy is more than just a day of elections; it is about building trust between citizens and the state, ensuring that leaders serve with integrity and that processes are inclusive. She offered a strong affirmation of local non-governmental groups: “In a room like this, you don’t need me to tell you what a vital role the Civil Society organisation has to play in making the voices of the citizens heard, safeguarding human rights, and deepening democratic values.” The UK official highlighted the FCDO’s “long-standing partnership” with the Situation Room, which spans over a decade and a half. She noted the ongoing legislative activity, including two important Bills before the National Assembly, and used a Nigerian proverb to urge collaboration: “The broom sweeps best when its individual sticks are bound together.”Ms. Rowe concluded by pledging the UK’s continued support, urging partners to deepen collaboration and strengthen institutions that guarantee fairness, justice, and accountability ahead of the 2026 off-cycle and 2027 general elections.
The forum was opened by Mr. Clement Nwankwo, the Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), which hosts the Situation Room. He framed the discussion by stressing that credible elections are the undisputed, non-negotiable foundation of democracy, which must be upheld by all stakeholders.
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