Precious Nwonu
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, has identified technology as a key tool for reducing electoral malpractice and violence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Udeh, who received the Public Sector Person of the Year award at the sixth edition of the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards organised by Pacesetter Frontier Magazine in Abuja, said technological advancements had contributed to the gradual transformation of the country’s electoral system.
He noted that the shift from manual voter registration and voting procedures to technology-assisted processes had helped address some electoral irregularities, including ballot snatching and stuffing.
The minister, however, stressed the need for continuous public engagement to encourage peaceful elections and strengthen democratic participation.
He advocated issue-based political campaigns, urging candidates to win voters’ support through policies and meaningful engagement rather than intimidation and violence.
“The fact that we’re doing public engagement on issues of election, how electioneering should be issue-based, not bringing violence, but speaking to the people to win their hearts and win their votes. And that is the way that it ought to be,” he said.
Udeh expressed optimism that Nigeria was gradually moving towards an electoral system where political parties and candidates would be judged by their policy proposals and ability to address citizens’ concerns rather than their capacity to deploy violence and aggression.