From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Election observers and experts have told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to introduce laws enabling the use of mobil phones for voting.
Also, they suggested that INEC and the National Assembly should enact laws that would give access to eligible Nigerians in the diaspora to participate in the electoral process.
The suggestions were brought forth by Dr Edward Perekebina Agbai, a co-author of a book titled: ‘The 2023 Election in Nigeria, Actors, Intrigues and Winners’, and launched yesterday in Abuja.
The book was written by Theo Boufini, Edward Agbai, Edward Aigbedion, and Waribugo Sylva.
Agbai, who doubles as the Director of Governance, Black Engineers of Canada said part of the snags linked to disenfranchisement and voter apathy was because Nigerians in the diaspora were left out of the electoral process.
“There would be high level of election participation by citizens. I am an account owner and I do my transactions with my phone. So it means that I can participate in a transaction without going anywhere.
“So I can participate in an election without actually going anywhere because I can do it on my phone.
“We all all know the issues surrounding security.
“So, the cost of security would also go down because I can do it from my phone. Nobody would be there to influence me.
“You can vote from our phones. There is a large chunk of Nigerians in the diaspora who should vote because they remit money to Nigeria. If they can send money from their phones why should they not vote?
“I think that these two are the significance things that would change. Technology democratises the space of anything , including election.
“It would reduce the cost of election and curb issues relating to violence, thuggery and intimidation of voters, he contended.
Also, Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, said voters should strive to achieve a democracy that is inclusive and responsive.
“This is a good boo. We need to start have something that looks like election. We must sanitise our electoral process that is all inclusive,” he said.