By PHILOMINA ATTAH

Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, a non-governmental organisation, has advised the upcoming chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to build on the current progress and address shortcomings in Nigeria’s electoral technology.

Mr Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Centre said this in Abuja on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the centre’s reports titled “Innovation in Electoral Technology (2015 to 2025): Gains, Gaps, and the Road Ahead” to be launched on Oct. 6.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gathered that the current INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, whose tenure began in 2015, is expected to conclude his second term in December.

Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, noted that Yakubu has done his best, but not without some challenges from previous elections observed.

He said that the report to be launched would enhance electoral integrity through data-driven research and transparent post-election audits.

He described the Oct. 6 event as more than a book launch, stressing that INEC’s role remains pivotal in shaping trust in elections.

He said that the report, which represents a decade-long review of Nigeria’s electoral technology, would critically assess INEC’s innovations and performance in managing elections over the past 10 years.

He added that the report covered nationwide poll conducted by NOI Polls, capturing citizen trust and perceptions of electoral technology as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections.

“At the event, Athena will formally launch the Athena Electoral Observatory, a platform that will monitor Nigeria’s elections and election technology, track global and regional innovations in electoral practice.

“It will also provide evidence-based assessment of reforms and deliver independent, citizen-focused insight into Nigeria’s democracy.

“The AEO will serve as Nigeria’s independent lens on elections, objective, evidence-based and citizen-focused,” he said.

Chidoka added that findings from stakeholder consultations with INEC, political parties and civil society, would serve as a turning point for electoral accountability.

“By convening all key stakeholders, the Athena Centre seeks to generate practical recommendations that will strengthen trust in Nigeria’s elections.

“The story of Nigeria’s democracy cannot be told without independent institutions holding the process to account. This is the role Athena Centre has chosen to play.

“The centre has been conducting post-election audits in several states, analysing INEC data to identify gaps and areas for improvement.

“These audits have shown that election results were altered in some cases due to over-voting.

“The AEO plans to institutionalise these analyses into a platform where Nigerians can access information on election technologies and audit reports,” he said.

He said that with INEC’s credibility under constant public scrutiny, the forthcoming review was expected to generate frank debate on its electoral innovations, gaps and the urgent reforms needed to restore confidence ahead of 2027.

“So, we are going to be looking at all the technology INEC has introduced and how they have functioned in our electoral journey. Are there gains? Are there gaps? And how do we take it forward?

“We have been conducting post-election audits; we have done it in four states now and also some by-elections. So, we are going to use that post-election audit as a benchmark to see how INEC’s technology has helped us.

“So, our expectation is that this review will make us know whether these INEC technologies are relevant to the electoral process.

“What about these technologies should we sustain? And what gaps should we close? So, inevitably, this is now setting an agenda for the new chairman.

“We don’t want to wait for the new chairman to come. We want to review what has happened.

“We want to hear from INEC what are the challenges to why some of these gaps exist, so that the new INEC chairman comes on board with certain clarity about what is working and what needs to be improved,” he added.

Chidoka said that the report would also help to address some of the identified challenges ahead of Ekiti, Osun and FCT Area council elections coming up in 2026 as well as 2027 general elections and beyond. (NAN)