The following questions will guide this study: In what ways did the smart card reader impact the 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State? What were the challenges and limitations of the smart card reader? What are the mechanisms that can be put in place to check the challenges that affects smart card readers during elections in Nigeria? Election has been the means of selecting political leaders in developed as well as developing nations across the world. However, the contestation for political offices in Nigeria is often characterized by different challenges which range from controversial primaries (internal democracy); the role of godfathers who select their preferred candidates to do their bidding; electoral violence et cetera. These among other factors were instrumental to the adoption of card readers in the conduct of elections in the country aimed at advancing credible electioneering process.
However, despite the adoption of card readers in the conduct of elections in the country since the fourth republic, electoral process have often been plagued by myriads of challenges like rigging, buying of votes, violence, malfunctioning of the card readers, and poorly trained INEC ad hoc staff. Several scholars have examined the use of card reader and its effects on electoral malpractices in Nigeria especially during the 2015 general elections. However, it was observed that not many literatures have appraised the impact of card reader and its effects on electoral process in the 2016 gubernatorial elections in Ondo State. This is the gap in literature this study has identified and therefore seeks to fill.
Electoral process is no doubt an institutionalized procedure for the choosing of political Office Holders by qualified adults’ members of a society. Hence, electioneering process exists to· provide the electorate the opportunity and right to choose their representative and maintain contact with them. Therefore, for an electoral system to be democratic, it should allow the electorate the leverage to make real and meaningful choice devoid of coercion or intimidation. Nigeria’s political history have been challenged with the gory tales of electoral malpractices; a feat that has negatively affected the nation’s polity.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Research Questions
1.4 Objectives of the Study
1.5 Research Hypotheses
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Significance of the Study
1.8 Definition of Terms
1.9 Organization of the Study
2. Literature Review
2.0 Introduction
2.1 Conceptual Clarification
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Gaps Filled in the Literature
3. Research Methodology
3.1 Sources / Methods of Data Collection
3.2 Study Population
3.3 Sampling Technique and Sample Size
3.4 Data Analysis
3.5 Validity of Research Instrument
3.6 Location of the Study
4. Data Presentation and Analysis
4.0 Introduction
4.1 Ways the Smart Card Readers Impacted the 2016 Gubernatorial Elections in Ondo State
4.2 The Challenges and Limitations of Smart Card Readers in the Conduct of the 2016 Gubernatorial Elections in Ondo State.
4.3 Mechanisms that can be put in place to check the Challenges Affecting Smart Card Readers during Elections in Nigeria
4.4 Discussions of Findings
5. Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations
5.0 Summary
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendations
Research Objectives and Themes
The research examines the impact of smart card reader technology on the electoral process in Nigeria, specifically focusing on the 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State. It seeks to analyze how this technology influenced electoral integrity, identify the practical challenges encountered during its implementation, and propose viable mechanisms to improve the efficiency and reliability of such electoral innovations in future Nigerian elections.
- Technological intervention in the Nigerian electoral process
- Electoral malpractice mitigation strategies
- Operational challenges of biometric verification (Smart Card Readers)
- Evaluation of electoral management and administration
- Technological determinism in political systems
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.2 Smart Card Reader
The smart card reader is an electronic device which is used to detain the authenticity of one’s permanent voter`s card. The smart card reader was the most highly contentious issue in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. It was used for the first time in 2015 and remains one of the greatest innovative technologies in Nigeria’s electoral history. The smart card reader is a technological device set up to authenticate and verify the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The device uses a cryptographic technology that has ultra-low power consumption with a single core frequency of 1.2GHZ and Android 4.2.2. Operating System (INEC, 2015).
In other words, the INEC card reader is designed to read information contained in the embedded chip of the Permanent Voter's Card issued by INEC and also carry out a verification of the intending voter by matching the biometrics obtained from the voter on the spot with the ones stored on the PVC (Engineering Network Team, 2015).The ability of the card reader to perform the above functions, as well as keeping a tally of the total numbers of voters accredited at the polling unit and forwarding the information to a central database server over a Global System Module (GSM) network makes the card reader most welcome at this point in time in the nation's electoral history (Engineering Network Team,2015). However, Banire (2015) contended that the electronic voting machine and the card reader are two different devices that are not necessarily deployed together for all purposes. He explained that a card reader is not an electronic voting machine but a machine to be used for accreditation of voters only before the actual voting.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter provides the background and context of the study, defining the electoral problem in Nigeria and outlining the research questions and objectives regarding the introduction of smart card reader technology.
Literature Review: This section reviews existing literature on technology and electoral systems, establishing a theoretical foundation through Technological Determinism and Cybernetics theories, while identifying the knowledge gap the study addresses.
Research Methodology: This chapter details the descriptive survey design, data collection methods including interviews with key stakeholders, and the specific location and population of the study.
Data Presentation and Analysis: This chapter presents the findings from the field, analyzing how the smart card reader impacted the 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election, the limitations faced, and the proposed mechanisms for improvement.
Summary, Conclusion, and Recommendations: This concluding chapter synthesizes the research findings and offers policy recommendations, such as better staff training and improved device engineering, to enhance future electoral credibility.
Keywords
Smart Card Reader, Electoral Malpractice, Nigeria, Ondo State, Gubernatorial Election, INEC, Biometric Verification, Election Management, Electoral Integrity, Technological Determinism, Cybernetics, Voter Accreditation, Electoral Reform, PVC, E-voting
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research project?
The research fundamentally focuses on evaluating the impact of smart card reader technology on the electoral process in Nigeria, using the 2016 gubernatorial election in Ondo State as a specific case study.
What are the central themes explored in this study?
The central themes include the role of technology in election management, the prevalence of electoral malpractices in Nigeria, the effectiveness of biometric authentication, and the challenges associated with adopting ICT in electoral systems.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The primary objective is to determine how the introduction of smart card readers influenced the conduct of the 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election, identify technical and human limitations, and suggest institutional mechanisms for future improvement.
Which scientific methodology does the author utilize?
The study employs a descriptive survey research design, utilizing both primary data gathered through structured interviews with nine key stakeholders and secondary data from journals, government publications, and media reports.
What topics are covered in the main body of the research?
The main body covers the conceptual and historical context of electoral technology, theoretical frameworks like Technological Determinism, and a detailed empirical analysis of how the card readers functioned during the 2016 election.
Which keywords best characterize this academic study?
Key terms include Smart Card Reader, Electoral Malpractice, Nigeria, Ondo State, INEC, Biometric Verification, Electoral Integrity, and Election Management.
How does the study address the failure of card readers to verify fingerprints?
The study notes that respondents attributed fingerprint verification failures to factors like dirty or greasy fingers of voters and technical malfunctions, and it recommends re-engineering the devices to be more robust.
What role did INEC ad-hoc staff play in the observed challenges?
The research highlights that poorly trained or inexperienced ad-hoc staff significantly contributed to the inefficient handling of the card reader machines during the polling process, leading to operational delays.
What specific improvements does the author recommend for future elections?
The author recommends comprehensive training programs for ad-hoc staff, improved battery durability for the devices, and conducting screening tests to ensure only competent personnel manage the technology during elections.
- Citar trabajo
- Olorunfunmibi Tolulope (Autor), 2019, The effect of the smart card reader on electoral malpractices in Nigeria, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/507143
