STAKEHOLDERS ROUNDTABLE ON ELECTORAL TECHNOLGY HELD ON 30TH JULY 2022 AT TRANSCORP HILTON ABUJA HOSTED BY YIAGA AFRICA SUPPORTED BY EUROPEAN UNION EU-SDGN.

The use of technology in electoral processes has become a topic of interest among election stakeholders in Nigeria. As technology advances, there is a need to integrate it into electoral processes to enhance citizen participation and ensure free, fair, and credible elections. This was the focus of the stakeholder’s roundtable on electoral technology held on 30th July 2022 at Transcorp Hilton Abuja hosted by Yiaga Africa with support from the European Union EU-SDGN.

The roundtable was attended by election stakeholders, civil society organizations, representatives from the European Union, and other relevant actors in the electoral process. The event aimed to discuss the role of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process and explore ways to make it more accessible to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, welcomed everyone to the roundtable and highlighted the importance of technology in enhancing citizen participation in elections. He noted that the recent Anambra state governorship election highlighted the challenges associated with technology and the need to address them to ensure the integrity of elections.

The discussions at the roundtable focused on ways to make technology more accessible to PWDs. It was noted that PWDs are often marginalized in the electoral process, and technology can be used to address this gap. The use of technology should be PWDs friendly to enable them to participate freely in elections.

The roundtable also explored ways to improve the use of technology in elections, including the training of election officials on how to use technology effectively. The need to address the challenges associated with technology in elections was also discussed, including issues of voter education, security, and transparency.

The representatives from the European Union noted that technology has played a significant role in improving electoral processes in other parts of the world and expressed their willingness to support Nigeria’s efforts in this regard.

The roundtable ended with a consensus on the need to improve the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process to enhance citizen participation and ensure free, fair, and credible elections. It was agreed that the use of technology should be PWDs friendly to enable them to participate freely in elections, and efforts should be made to address the challenges associated with technology in elections.

In conclusion, the stakeholder’s roundtable on electoral technology was a step in the right direction towards improving Nigeria’s electoral process. It brought together relevant actors in the electoral process to discuss ways to enhance citizen participation and ensure free, fair, and credible elections. With the support of the European Union and other relevant actors, it is hoped that Nigeria can make significant progress in the use of technology in electoral processes and ensure that PWDs are not left behind.