1.1 Introduction
The use of card readers at the 2015 general elections in Nigeria has infused some level of transparency and credibility into Nigeria electoral process (Okoro, 2015). It was observed that when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) first announced its plan to introduce card reader for the March 28 and April 11 2015 general elections, many Nigerians as well as politicians strongly opposed the idea. They felt that the card reader machine could have been test - run prior to the general elections to ensure hitch free elections.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
The Electoral Management Body-Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the institution charged with the responsibility of ensuring a transparent, impactial, and participatory electoral process in the Fourth Republic (Larry, 2015).However, elections so far conducted in the country since 1999 have been anything but transparent. This assessment is based on reports from local as well as international election observers (Larry, 2015). For instance, the 2003 general electionswas adjudged by electoral observers to have been riddled with high level of malpractices which ranged from buying of votes and harassment of electorates by security operatives as well as political thugs loyal to the ruling party (Akinboye, 2005). The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) stated that the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections in some states fell short of international and regional standards and did not reflect the voting pattern of the Nigerian people (TMG, 2003). Their opinions and observations however did not prevent the inauguration of President Olusegun Obasanjo for a second term in office; thereby raising questions on the impactiality and transparency of INEC (Larry, 2015). Though the 2003 elections were condemned for falling below international standards, those of 2007 were described as the worst in the history of elections in Nigeria (Larry, 2015). According to Human Rights Watch:
The polls marked a dramatic step backwards, even when measured against the dismal standard set by the 2003 election. Electoral officials alongside the very government agencies charged with ensuring the credibility of the polls were accused of reducing the elections to a violent and fraud ridden farce (Human Rights Watch, 2007).
Having admitted that the elections that brought him to power were less than perfect, the Umar Musa Yar‘Adua administration on the 28th of August, 2007 set up an Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) to examine the electoral process and recommend ways of reforming it. The 22 member committee headed by Retired Justice Mohammed Uwais came up with several recommendations aimed at ensuring free, fair and credible elections, one that will conform to internationally standards. Amongst these recommendations include: establishing electoral tribunals to deal with electoral offenses; constituency delimitation; proportional representation in elections to Federal and State legislatures and local government councils as well as removing the power of appointing the INEC chairman from the President and vesting it on the Judiciary (Kwagha and Tarfa, 2015).
Similarly, INEC under the leadership of Professor Maurice Iwu and Professor Attahiru Jega in 2011 and 2015 respectively also introduced some electoral reforms aimed at reducing electoral malpractices in the country. While Professor Maurice Iwu introduced the idea of using Nigerian Service Youth Corp (NYSC) members as polling agents as against the old practise of recruiting anybody from the street; some of whom turn out to be agents of different candidates and political parties, Professsor Attahiru Jega initiated the technologically based reforms with the use of the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and introduction of Smart Card Reader technology, a device used to scan the PVC in order to verify the identity of a voter in a polling booth (Kwagha and Tarfa, 2015). The smart card reader was one of the greatest innovations of biometric verification technology as well as a crucial aspect of the 2015 general elections especially as the electorates as well as civic societies and the international community were determined at ensuring the conduct of a credible, free and fair election in the country (Kwagha and Tarfa, 2015).
In Nigeria, the card reading machine was introduced in the conduct of 2015 general election as well as during the gubernatorial elections in Edo, Anambra, and Ondo states and in the just concluded election in Ekiti state. However, electoral observers posits that despite the adoption of card readers, electioneering process in the country is still plagued with myriads of challenges evident in late arrival or non-availability of electoral materials, falsification of election results, failure/malfunctioning of the card reader machines and thuggery aimed at subverting the electioneering process (Eleckwa, 2008).
Therefore, in Taraba State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Electoral Malpractices and Card Reader System in Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of Problem
The adoption of card readers in the conduct of elections in the country since the fourth republic, electoral process have often been plagued by myriads of challenges like rigging, buying of votes, violence, malfunctioning of the card readers, and poorly trained INEC ad hoc staff. In spite of the goals and objectives of the smart card reader, it generated debate among the 2015 general election actors before, during and after the polls. On the one hand, supporters of the card reader view the innovation as a deliberate effort to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election; on the other hand, there have been arguments that INEC has neither the legitimate authority nor The adoption of card readers in the conduct of elections in the country since the fourth republic, electoral process have often been plagued by myriads of challenges like rigging, buying of votes, violence, malfunctioning of the card readers, and poorly trained INEC ad hoc staff. capacity to use the card reader (Policy & Legal Advocacy Centre 2015b).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to scrutinize the Electoral Malpractices and Card Reader System in Nigeria using 2015 Presidential Election in Taraba State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Identify the ways the use of smart card reader impacted on the 2016 gubernatorial election in Taraba State;
- Examine the challenges and limitations of the use of smart card readers during the 2016 gubernatorial election in Taraba State; and
- Determine the mechanisms that can be put in place to check the challenges affecting the use of smart card readers during elections in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does smart card reader impact the 2016 gubernatorial election in Taraba State?
- Was the electoral card reader reliable during the 2015 presidential election in Taraba state?
- What were the challenges and limitations of the smart card reader in the conduct 2016 gubernatorial election in Taraba State?
- What are the mechanisms that can be put in place to check the challenges that affects smart card readers during elections in Nigeria?
- What are the effects of card readers on the credibility of 2015 presidential election in Taraba state?
- What are the reactions of the electorates toward the card reader during the 2015 presidential election in Taraba state?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H0: The introduction of Card Readers did not significantly reduce electoral malpractices during the 2016 gubernatorial election in Taraba State.
- H1: The introduction of Card Readers significantly reduced electoral malpractices during the 2016 gubernatorial election in Taraba State.
1.7 Significance of Study
This research will add to the body of existing knowledge and literature on the role of smart card reader during elections in Nigeria and also educate the general public on the benefits and major challenges of the Smart Card Reader and other electoral technological innovations to enhance credibility of elections aimed at consolidating democracy in Nigeria. This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Electoral Malpractices and Card Reader System in Nigeria using 2015 Presidential Election in Taraba State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definitions of Terms
The following terms were used in the course of this study:
Card reader: an electronic device that reads and transfers data from various portable memory storage devices.
Electoral malpractice: manipulation of electoral processes and outcomes so as to substitute personal or partisan benefit for the public interest.
Presidential election: The act or process of electing someone to fill an office or position: Officers are chosen by election and not by appointment
