Adeyanju Urges INEC To Learn From NBA’s Electronic Voting Process

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to study the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections, describing the exercise as proof that secure and efficient electronic voting is achievable in Nigeria.

Adeyanju made the call on Saturday shortly after casting his vote in the NBA elections, where he commended the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) for conducting what he described as a seamless and credible electronic voting process.

According to him, the entire process, from registration and voter verification to the actual casting of his ballot, took less than two minutes.

“I have just voted in the ongoing NBA elections, and I must commend the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) for a seamless process. Registration, verification and voting took me less than two minutes,” he said.

The activist noted that the ECNBA had demonstrated the viability of secure electronic voting by deploying each lawyer’s unique Supreme Court number alongside a One-Time Password (OTP) verification system to authenticate voters.

He argued that the experience should serve as a model for Nigeria’s electoral management body, insisting that technology can enhance the integrity and efficiency of elections if properly implemented.

“The ECNBA has demonstrated that secure electronic voting is possible, using each lawyer’s unique Supreme Court number and OTP verification. INEC should closely observe this process and take lessons from it. Electronic voting can work efficiently and securely in Nigeria. The NBA election shows that electronic voting is achievable with the right systems,” Adeyanju stated.

He also expressed hope that the Chairman of INEC, who is a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), would personally participate in the NBA election to witness the electronic voting process firsthand.

“And I hope the INEC Chairman, a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has voted in the ongoing NBA election,” he added.

The call comes amid ongoing debates over the adoption of technology to improve the credibility, transparency and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process, with stakeholders continuing to advocate for reforms that would strengthen public confidence in elections.