Press Statement: Ariyo Dialogue Examines Nigeria’s Electoral Reform Challenges and Calls for Systemic Change
The Ariyo Dialogue on Electoral Reform Series, organised by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought held on October 29, 2025, convened policy experts, election observers, and civic leaders to assess the state of Nigeria’s electoral system. The discussion revealed deep-seated institutional weaknesses, political interference, and accountability gaps that continue to undermine election integrity and public trust in democratic processes.
Systemic and Institutional Challenges
Participants noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces structural inefficiencies marked by unclear institutional roles, conflicting political appointments, and limited accountability. These weaknesses create openings for manipulation and sustain a cycle of cosmetic reforms that fail to address root causes.
The dialogue also highlighted the growing politicization of electoral bodies, fragmentation between bureaucrats and political appointees, and the dominance of procurement-driven reform agendas that prioritize contracts over credible system improvement.
Voter Register and Verification
Concerns were raised about the accuracy and credibility of the national voter register, which remains bloated with duplicate entries, invalid records, and names of deceased individuals. Such distortions not only affect turnout figures but also complicate enforcement and monitoring.
Participants emphasized the urgency of a comprehensive voter verification process, including biometric audits similar to verified GSM registrations, to restore public confidence in electoral data.
Technology and Process Innovations
While innovations such as Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and biometric verification have improved transparency, the persistence of manual result collation and transmission continues to pose a major challenge.
The introduction of the Independent Result Viewing (IReV) portal was recognized as a step forward, yet its current reactive use limits its potential impact. INEC’s communication gaps were also noted as a barrier to public understanding and trust in ongoing reforms.
Political Will and Accountability
Speakers underscored the importance of genuine political will in driving meaningful reform. They observed that weak accountability mechanisms allow unfulfilled reform promises to persist without consequence.
Issues such as voter suppression, unsafe polling conditions, and difficult registration processes continue to discourage participation, particularly among young voters.
Recommendations
Participants proposed a series of reforms to address systemic inefficiencies and strengthen democratic accountability:
- Implement comprehensive legal and institutional reforms beyond procurement interests.
- Digitize result transmission directly from polling units for transparency and real-time public access.
- Establish clear operational and accountability frameworks for electoral officers.
- Strengthen voter education, civic engagement, and training of election officials to reduce manipulation.
- Align procurement processes with long-term institutional development goals.
- Encourage collective citizen action to safeguard electoral credibility and inclusivity.
Proposed Actions
The dialogue called for immediate steps to:
- Conduct biometric verification to clean up the voter register.
- Integrate electronic result transmission and public viewing platforms.
- Enhance INEC’s communication strategy to improve clarity and transparency.
- Develop operational guidelines that promote accountability and professionalism among electoral officers.
- Mobilize citizen participation and political party agents for election monitoring.
- Promote legal literacy and public empowerment for evidence-based electoral challenges.
Conclusion
The session concluded that Nigeria’s electoral reform process remains constrained by institutional distrust, poor transparency, and political interference. Sustained reform—driven by political will, civic vigilance, and institutional accountability—is essential to ensure that Nigeria’s elections are truly free, fair, and credible.
About the Ariyo Dialogue on Electoral Reform Series
The Ariyo Dialogue is a civic platform that convenes stakeholders across government, academia, and civil society to foster evidence-based conversations on governance and democracy. The series aims to generate actionable insights that inform policy and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions.