International Journal of Innovative Research and Development

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an increasingly and indispensable aspect of living and working in the 21^st century. Based on the assumption that an automated system through ICT can aid human efficiency and eliminate bias, INEC in 2015 fully adopted the use of CRM in the Nigerian elections. However, in its debut season, the CRM witnessed a lot of hitches in terms of functionality. Data from INEC shows that the machine recorded an underwhelming average success rate of 42%nationwide during the presidential election. Therefore, to ensure a hitch-free election in 2019, INEC embarked on a massive repair and enhancement exercise to upgrade, fix, and improve all aspects of the CRM. Anchoring on the ‘Cybernetics Model of Communications Theory’, this paper examines the use of INEC improved CRM and the credibility of the 2019 gubernatorial election in Rivers State. Methodologically, a triangulation research design was utilized to facilitate the validation of data through qualitative and quantitative data collections. In the quantitative phase, 200 copies of questionnaires were randomly distributed in Port Harcourt, Obio-Akpor, Oyigbo, and Eleme local governments. Data collected were analyzed using Mean and Standard Deviation for the research items. Thus, items that rated 2.50 and above were considered as required while items that rated below 2.50 were considered not required. The paper found that the CRM was not given a fair trial and was not used in several places where results were produced due to heavy militarization of the election, and the destruction and hijacking of sensitive materials by cult groups, military personnel and armed thugs working for politicians. On the strength of the findings, the paper strongly recommended the adoption of an electronic voters’ system where voters can log-in and vote using bank verification number (BVN) and personal identification number (PIN), and those with no such capacity can as well vote in an INEC designated area closer to them.

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Abstract

Africa has encountered colossal challenges in its quest for democratization; one of which has been the militarization of politics. Though Nigeria is gradually shedding the black history of militarism that spanned the 1960s-1990s and embracing democratization, militarism still lingers, remaining a ghost that has haunted the country’s democracy venture. This scenario has prompted Ntalaja to argue that democratic process in Nigeria is bedeviled by poor party politics as a result of not only excessive westernization of the concept ‘democracy’, but also the politicization of the higher echelon of the military profession among others. Although the 2019 general elections have come and gone, but the credibility of the entire process received a lot of criticisms based on how those allotted different roles by law and the relevant authorities conducted themselves. Amidst the raging bubbling anger among Nigerians over the involvement of military in the 2019 general elections, many political analysts dug into how due process was subverted in some states across the country during the elections. Rivers State, the oil and gas capital of Nigeria, is one of the states embroiled in controversies associated with the elections whose process was suspended and declared inconclusive by INEC due to the sheer number of military personnel on duty during the elections and the partisan role they played. This paper by employing the post-colonial state theory argues that the involvement of the military in Rivers state 2019 General Elections is a reflection of the authoritarian character of the Nigerian state. The findings revealed that military presence in Rivers state in the 2019General Elections accounts for the low voters’ turnout in the state. The paper depended on documentary method and utilizes content analysis. This paper recommended among other that in spite of the non-tolerant nature and behavior of the political elites, the military of whatever status or nature be kept from being part and parcel of the electoral processes by allowing the civilian authorities to conduct and carry out the entire processes at all levels.

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