INEC Election Tech: Mahmood Yakubu Says Gadgets Boost Polls But Can’t Wipe Out Flaws
By: Abudu Olalekan
Flashback. 2015. Mahmood Yakubu steps in as INEC chair. Buhari appoints him. Senate nods. Decade unfolds. Tech revolution. BIVAS. Voter enrolment devices. Results portal. Polling units expand. Inclusivity push. Women. Youth. PWDs. IDPs. Milestones.
But now? Book drops. “Election Management in Nigeria: 2015–2025.” INEC publishes it. 200 pages. Yakubu’s foreword hits hard. “Most momentous decade.” Achievements. Challenges. Lessons.
Tech improved polls. No doubt. Over last ten years. Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System shines. Results Viewing portal? Game changer. Yet. Can’t end flaws. Electoral violence. Attacks on facilities. Personnel hurt. Vote trading. Logistics nightmares. Postponements since 2011. Litigations galore. Conflicting court orders.
“Technical glitches. Connectivity fails.” Yakubu admits. Not a panacea. Reforms rolled out. Voter education ramps. Officials trained. Security collab tightens. Policies for tech deployment.
Future? Evolve. Consolidate old fixes. New ones too. Public trust key. Inclusivity drive. Ahead of threats. “Free, fair, credible. Inclusive polls.” Democracy solidifies.
Yakubu’s ride? Rocky. First term 2015. Reappointed 2020. First ever. From TETFund boss. Professor of history. Two generals: 2019, 2023. Off-cycles too. Tech innovations praised. But 2023? Backlash. Log fails. Irregularities alleged. Courts battle credibility. Voter apathy. Security woes. Pressure cooker.
Tinubu accepts resignation. CON honor. Thursday? Council of State okays Joash Amupitan as new chair. Senate screening next. Agbamuche-Mbu holds fort acting.
Reactions? PDP blasts. Deputy Pub Sec Ibrahim Abdullahi: “Hypocrisy!” Ten years, what measures? Left worse. Admission of failure? Compromise? Fraud? Admonish successor: Live clean. Ditch Yakubu’s ways.
LP’s Obiora Ifoh: Self-indicting. Not tech. Corrupt officials. Manipulate for politics. System solid. But humans crook it. Pre-2023? Tech director sacked. Inept replacement. Plotted glitch. Pulled plug when results swayed wrong.
ADC’s Bolaji Abdullahi: Tech only as good as handlers. Questionable intents? Compromised. New leadership? Suspect. Appointed by ruling prez. Prove yourself, Amupitan.
NNPP Nat Sec Dipo Olayokun defends INEC partial. Blame politicians more. Hook or crook mindset. Influence results. “Fingers at INEC chair quick. But pollies guilty.”
Yakubu reflects. Tech advances. Flaws persist. Humans at core. Reforms urgent. Nigerians demand better. 2027 looms. Will Amupitan deliver? Watch.
