By Juliet Umeh

Stakeholders in the blockchain ecosystem have said blockchain technology could help improve transparency and rebuild trust in Nigeria’s elections.

The position was shared during an X Space discussion hosted by the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria, SiBAN, themed: “From Ballot to Blocks: Can Blockchain Fix Nigeria’s Elections?”

Participants included Chief Executive Officer of Alpha-Geek Technologies, Oluwaseun Dania; CEO of Egoras Technology, Harry Ugorji; President of SiBAN, Mela Claude Ake; and Head of Voter Education, Lagos office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Taiwo Gbadegesin, among others.

The experts noted that while blockchain is not a magic solution, it could provide a secure and verifiable framework capable of reducing result manipulation and addressing voter apathy.

Speaking during the session, Dania said the major challenge confronting Nigeria’s elections is the lack of confidence in the integrity of results during transmission and collation.

According to him, many Nigerians have become disillusioned with the electoral system because they believe their votes do not count.

“The real opportunity is actually much simpler. Blockchain is not there to change how Nigerians vote, but to technically protect the integrity of the votes that are cast,” Dania said.

He added that a blockchain-based system could allow election results to be recorded on a transparent and time-stamped ledger accessible for verification.

“People will be more confident knowing that as they cast their votes, the results are recorded on the blockchain and visible to everyone,” he added.

Dania explained that such a system could eliminate opportunities for manipulation and encourage more citizens to participate in elections.

However, he acknowledged that challenges such as limited internet penetration and low digital literacy could complicate an immediate transition to full electronic voting.

To address this, he proposed a gradual hybrid approach that would introduce blockchain into the electoral system in phases rather than through a sudden shift to e-voting.

He suggested that foundational elements such as voter registers and National Identification Numbers could first be secured on a blockchain platform, while the technology could initially be used for result transmission to ensure that data recorded at polling units remains unchanged during collation.

Also speaking, Ugorji highlighted the need to test the technology within political party systems before deploying it nationwide.

“They have to scan the EC8A form. Once they scan and upload, there should be an AI-based layer that extracts that information and transmits it to the smart contracts. This data can be saved using IPFS so that everybody can verify it at any time,” he said.

Providing insights into ongoing electoral processes, Gbadegesin said election management involves continuous activities beyond election day, including monitoring party primaries and reviewing applications from political associations seeking registration.

He identified the Continuous Voter Registration exercise as a major engagement point with citizens, noting that the process usually intensifies about 18 to 24 months before general elections.

Gbadegesin, who was represented by the Head of Unit, Voter Education, INEC Lagos, Ayopo Lawal, said the commission has improved voter registration through an online pre-registration platform that allows Nigerians, including those abroad, to initiate registration and update personal details through their mobile devices.

He added that the system reduces clerical errors and shortens the time spent at registration centres because applicants only need to complete biometric capture during their visit.

The stakeholders also expressed readiness to collaborate with INEC and recommended pilot tests in smaller elections such as university student union polls before considering nationwide adoption.