E-voting debate gains momentum after controversial party primaries

The controversy surrounding the recent primary elections conducted by major political parties has intensified calls for the adoption of electronic voting (e-voting) in Nigeria’s internal party processes. Across several states during the primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), videos surfaced showing chaotic queue-counting exercises where figures […]

The controversy surrounding the recent primary elections conducted by major political parties has intensified calls for the adoption of electronic voting (e-voting) in Nigeria’s internal party processes.
Across several states during the primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), videos surfaced showing chaotic queue-counting exercises where figures were allegedly allocated arbitrarily instead of being transparently counted.
In some instances, officials were seen skipping from single digits straight into the hundreds while announcing results before frustrated party members and observers.
The incidents triggered outrage among party faithful and political analysts, many of whom described the exercises as embarrassing and damaging to public confidence in democracy.
The structural problem, however, is not entirely new. Direct primaries—introduced to broaden participation among party members—have repeatedly been criticized for manipulation, inflated figures, and a lack of transparency.
Meanwhile, indirect primaries are frequently accused of empowering delegates and political godfathers at the expense of ordinary members.
Amid these growing concerns, some political actors are beginning to explore technology-driven alternatives.
A newly formed political platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), recently unveiled plans to introduce electronic voting for its congresses and future primaries.
Party leaders said the system would enable verified members to vote electronically using their mobile phones in a bid to strengthen internal democracy and eliminate manual manipulation.
Although neither the APC nor the PDP has officially announced plans to adopt e-voting for their primaries, both parties have already embraced digital reforms in other areas, including electronic membership registration and digital databases ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A political analyst, Bode James, has expressed strong displeasure at the manner in which most of the political parties conducted their recent primaries.

He argued that where the direct primary mode was adopted, the results were merely concocted rather than being a true reflection of the voters’ choices.

While noting that electronic voting might not entirely eliminate the antics of desperate politicians, James emphasized that it would go a long way in preventing the embarrassing spectacles witnessed during the direct primaries.

“E-voting will go a long way to address this, but it cannot entirely stop their antics,” James said. “Something fundamental must be done to comprehensively address the structural gaps in our electoral system.”

Also speaking on the debate, a political scientist at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Gbade Ojo, noted that political parties are legally empowered to adopt any voting method convenient for their internal elections, as the Electoral Act does not prescribe a mandatory mode for party primaries.

He, however, questioned the immediate practicality of electronic voting under Nigeria’s current socio-economic realities, citing poor electricity supply, low ICT infrastructure, and limited digital literacy, particularly at the grassroots level.

“Electronic voting is inappropriate for our current level of development,” he said, arguing that while technology is evolving, parties should still be free to adopt whichever system they consider logistically suitable.

The don nevertheless described the conduct of the recent primaries as deeply troubling, blaming the situation largely on what he called the insincerity of political actors.

“Our politicians are insincere. They even rig where they are popular,” he said.

According to him, the crisis goes beyond the voting method itself and reflects deeper structural flaws in the administration of political parties.