Jega Warns Against Rushed Adoption of E-Voting in Nigeria

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has advised the Nigerian government to tread carefully in adopting electronic voting technology, warning that infrastructure and capacity limitations could undermine its effectiveness.

Speaking at The Platform in Lagos during events marking Democracy Day, Jega acknowledged the urgent need to modernize Nigeria’s electoral processes but stressed that the country must avoid haste.

“We have to understand the need to make haste slowly,” he said. “We want to scale up the use of technology, but a realistic assessment shows serious gaps in our technological infrastructure.”

Jega pointed to Estonia, often hailed for its use of internet voting, as an example that cannot easily be replicated in Nigeria due to infrastructure differences.

“Estonia is a very small country with far better infrastructure. Nigeria is still struggling with internet access even in many urban centers—rural areas are worse.”

He also expressed concern about Nigeria’s lack of local capacity for manufacturing election equipment, warning against overdependence on foreign suppliers.

“We’re not equipment manufacturers. Without some level of independence, we risk becoming hostages to external suppliers.”

Drawing a comparison with India, Jega noted that despite its technological advancements, the country still relies on mechanical voting rather than full electronic systems.

“After the 2015 elections, many expected us to adopt e-voting by 2019. But the reality is different. There’s still a lot we must invest in before such systems become feasible,” he said.

While acknowledging broad support for electoral modernization, Jega concluded by urging government stakeholders to implement reforms in measured, practical steps, to ensure lasting value and credibility in Nigeria’s democratic process.