Electoral malpractices are a common phenomenon in Nigeria's democratic history. Despite the country's commitment to free and fair elections, irregularities such as vote buying, ballot stuffing, and rigging persist. The just concluded 2023 elections in Nigeria were no exception. The elections were marred by allegations of vote buying, ballot box snatching, and other electoral malpractices. However, the use of blockchain technology could help prevent these malpractices and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

Electoral malpractices are a common phenomenon in Nigeria's democratic history. Despite the country's commitment to free and fair elections, irregularities such as vote buying, ballot stuffing, and rigging persist. The just concluded 2023 elections in Nigeria were no exception. The elections were marred by allegations of vote buying, ballot box snatching, and other electoral malpractices. However, the use of blockchain technology could help prevent these malpractices and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

Electoral Malpractices in Nigeria

The 2023 Nigerian elections were marred by allegations of electoral malpractices, particularly vote buying. This practice involves the exchange of money or other valuable items for votes. In some cases, politicians also intimidate voters or manipulate the electoral process to ensure that their preferred candidates win. Such practices undermine the credibility of the electoral process and erode citizens' trust in democracy.

Another form of electoral malpractice that is common in Nigeria is ballot stuffing. This involves the stuffing of ballot boxes with fake ballot papers or the manipulation of the vote count to favor a particular candidate. In some cases, ballot papers are also destroyed, and election officials are bribed to manipulate the results. Such practices undermine the credibility of the electoral process and lead to the disenfranchisement of voters.

INEC's Faulted Regulations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body responsible for conducting elections in Nigeria. However, during the 2023 elections, INEC was faulted for its regulations. For instance, the commission used manual means of results collation instead of the biometric voter accreditation system (BIVAS). This led to delays in the collation of results, which created room for manipulation and irregularities. In addition, the commission was also accused of failing to prosecute those involved in electoral malpractices.

Blockchain Technology and its Application in Elections

Blockchain technology is a decentralized system that allows for secure and transparent record-keeping. It works by creating a digital ledger of transactions that are verified and validated by a network of computers. Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the way elections are conducted in Nigeria.

The use of blockchain technology in elections can help ensure the integrity of the electoral process by preventing electoral malpractices such as vote buying, ballot stuffing, and manipulation of results. Blockchain technology can provide a transparent and immutable record of election results that cannot be altered by any single party. This would increase the credibility of the electoral process and foster citizens' trust in democracy.

Conclusion

The just concluded 2023 Nigerian elections were marred by allegations of electoral malpractices. However, the use of blockchain technology could help prevent these malpractices and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Blockchain technology provides a transparent and immutable record of election results, which would increase the credibility of the electoral process and foster citizens' trust in democracy. It is high time that INEC leverages the potential of blockchain technology to ensure free and fair elections in Nigeria.