Former President Goodluck Jonathan has noted that the use of electronic voting in the country is key to ensuring election credibility.
According to Jonathan, its application would guarantee the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The former president expressed his opinion on Wednesday while delivering a lecture at the inauguration ceremony/lecture of the National Defence College, Course 30, in Abuja, where he dwelt on the theme, ‘Human security and national development: The whole society approach.’
“There is no doubt that the independence of the electoral management body is the key plank upon which a thriving democracy rests. In Nigeria, the agency with the constitutional responsibility for this role is the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“There is need for those involved in the ongoing electoral reforms to review their efforts and ask themselves some tough questions. That way, they will be able to determine whether they are advancing the course of democracy by working to enhance and protect the constitutionally guaranteed duties of INEC or seeking to encumber the body with unnecessary posturing, capable of negatively affecting the exercise of its independence, in the conduct of elections,” Jonathan said.
He stressed that he found it difficult to believe the opposition trailing the use of the electronic voting despite the advancement and reliability of technology.
He further stated, “I have always made the case that electronic voting is the way to go
if we truly desire to secure the credibility and integrity of our elections.
“It is difficult, therefore, to understand why the argument against the possibility of electronic transmission of election results continues to persist, despite all the advancement made in information and communication technology, over the years.
“If we truly desire to deepen the roots of democracy in our land, we should not seek to reverse the progress already recorded by INEC in the application of modern tools in the conduct of elections but aim to improve the processes in the light of new technology.”
The former President stressed the need for emphasis to be placed on security of lives and property.
