2027: Stakeholders in the Nation’s Electoral Process Tasked on Credible Polls

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Ahead of the 2027 general election in the country, stakeholders in the electoral process  at the weekend  were urged to fashion out new innovations and practical solutions that can be scaled up and implemented in order to ensure a free and fair future elections in the country.

The Executive Director of  a non- governmental organisation based in Kwara State, Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative (WDSfAI), Mrs. Bakare Nafisat, stated this in Ilorin last Friday while declaring open workshop on Hackathon with the theme: ‘How Technology can Solve Election Problem in Nigeria’.

The event was organised by the WDSfAI  to garner innovations on how to ensure a credible and acceptable elections in the country.

According to her, “I have witnessed the impact of elections on our country’s progress and the lives of our citizens.

“Also, we have seen how technological innovations have transformed various aspects of our lives, and it is imperative that we harness this power to strengthen our democratic process of our dear country, Nigeria.”

She stated that: “Elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that they are free, fair, and transparent.

“However, we have faced numerous challenges in this regard, including voters’ registration and verification issues, vote buying and selling, bullying, inadequate voting infrastructure among others.

“But today, we gather to witness and explore how great innovators that are gathered here today can use technology to develop innovative solutions to election challenges, create prototypes and proposals for implementation and also network and build partnerships for future collaboration which are very crucial to our country.

“From blockchain-based voting systems to artificial intelligence-powered voter registration, the possibilities are endless.

“I urge you all to embrace this hackathon with creativity, curiosity, and a commitment to excellence. Let us work together to harness the potentials of technology and ensure that our elections are truly representative of the will of the Nigerian people.

“At Webfala Digital Skills for all initiative, we look forward to your various innovation and practical solutions that can be scaled up and implemented in Nigeria’s future elections.”

However, at the end of the programme, three of the invited groups, which proffered solutions after brainstorming towards better elections in Nigeria were given cash awards of N300K,N200K and N150K on the basis of their performances by the Judges which include Olasupo Abideen of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, and Chairman of Kwara State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abdulateef Ahmed among others.