Election Results Possible in Three Hours with Optimal Technology Use, Says Aregbesola
Rauf Aregbesola, the Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asserted that Nigeria possesses the capability to announce election results within a mere three hours if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) utilizes technology to its maximum potential.
Speaking on Monday during a panel discussion focused on “Innovation in Electoral Technology 2015-2025,” Aregbesola expressed doubt that Nigeria is currently leveraging technology to its fullest.
He cited several countries—including India, Brazil, Venezuela, Israel, and Ghana—as examples where results are swiftly announced following large-scale elections.
“As to technology, I don’t believe we are using technology to the optimum level,” Aregbesola said. “Elections results can be gotten in less than three hours. If indeed we have technology.”
He referenced the existence of a “result monitoring module” that should allow results to come in almost immediately and challenged INEC to demonstrate its effectiveness and explain any limitations.
Aregbesola acknowledged that the swift delivery of electoral transparency is not solely the responsibility of INEC, suggesting that other agencies and institutions, particularly the judiciary, must align with the will of the people.
He delivered a pointed message to the judicial arm of government: “It’s not only INEC… Beyond INEC, it’s the judiciary. We must tell the judiciary, we must save the judiciary that you cannot usurp the role of the general people to decide who their leaders are.”
