Nigeria’s Electoral System Requires Urgent Reforms to Enhance Voter Participation
YIAGA Africa has presented findings that underscore the pressing need for reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system to mitigate wasteful spending and boost voter engagement. These insights were shared during the launch of their voter turnout report in Abuja.
The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, pointed out the substantial financial losses due to low voter turnout.
In the 2023 elections, out of 93 million registered voters who received ballot papers, only 27% participated, resulting in over 500 million unused sheets.
“These billions of naira could have been allocated to healthcare, education, and business support instead of being wasted on unused ballot papers,” Itodo remarked at the report’s launch, which can be further explored in the voter turnout report.
Itodo advocated for the elimination of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) requirement, asserting that the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) sufficiently manages voter records.
“It doesn’t make sense that we’re still using PVCs when the BVAS contains the voters register. Many Nigerians were disenfranchised in 2023 simply because INEC didn’t issue their PVCs. Instead, we should allow legally accepted IDs, such as passports or national identity cards, for voting,” he asserted.
Professor Emmanuel Remi Aiyede, a researcher involved in the study, emphasized the necessity to simplify the voting process.
In a conversation with Pulse Nigeria, he highlighted that obstacles such as long distances to polling units and delays in election logistics deter voter participation.
“The focus should be on making voting easier, not harder. We must reduce the cost and inconvenience of voting,” Aiyede stated.
Nonetheless, he opposed the idea of mandatory voting, citing Nigeria’s ongoing security issues and the public’s attitude towards politics.
Expert Analysis: Voter Inducement Not the Cause of Nigeria’s Electoral Challenges
Another significant finding from the YIAGA Africa report disputes the long-standing notion regarding voter inducement.
Election expert Safiya Bichi explained that the perceived impact of vote-buying on turnout is often overstated.
“The study found no strong correlation between voter inducement and voter turnout. While many assume that financial incentives drive participation, this research suggests otherwise,” Bichi elaborated.
She also stressed the importance of conducting continuous audits of the voter register to eliminate ineligible or duplicate entries, including those of deceased individuals.
The report revealed that despite various electoral innovations introduced in 2023, voter turnout remained critically low.
Bichi recommended a comprehensive evaluation to determine the effectiveness of these reforms.
Between 2003 and 2023, Nigeria’s voter turnout has dramatically declined, making it the largest democracy in Africa with the lowest voter participation.
Electoral stakeholders are now being urged to act on YIAGA Africa’s recommendations to reverse this concerning trend ahead of the next general elections.
