INEC Acknowledges Technology Failures in 2023 Polls, Promises Improvements for Edo Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has openly addressed the technological challenges faced during the 2023 elections, offering a reassured stance on its readiness for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State. In an interview with Channels TV’s Politics Today, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, discussed the commission’s efforts to rectify past issues and enhance the electoral process.

Acknowledgment of Past Mistakes

INEC's admission of mistakes during the 2023 elections marks a significant step towards transparency and accountability. The commission's embrace of this acknowledgment reflects a commitment to improving its operations and addressing the shortcomings that marred the last electoral cycle.

Oyekanmi highlighted that technology, while beneficial, is not without its faults. He emphasized that technology, despite its advancements, is not a panacea for all electoral challenges. The glitches experienced during the 2023 elections have been a learning opportunity for INEC, and the commission has taken concrete steps to address these issues.

Technology's Limitations and Global Comparisons

Oyekanmi drew comparisons between INEC’s technological challenges and those faced by global tech giants such as Facebook and Instagram. He noted that even these companies, despite their resources and expertise, experience downtime and technical difficulties. His comments aimed to contextualize INEC’s challenges within a broader framework of technological unpredictability.

“Technology is good; we have no doubt about it. It has helped the work of INEC; but I always say that technology is not a silver bullet; it does not solve all problems,” Oyekanmi stated. This perspective underscores the understanding that while technology can enhance efficiency, it also comes with inherent risks and limitations.

Rectifications and Improvements

According to Oyekanmi, INEC has already made significant strides in correcting the glitches that impacted the 2023 elections. The commission has updated its systems and processes to prevent similar issues from arising in future elections. He reassured the public that the results from the presidential election are accessible on the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IREV), emphasizing that transparency and accountability are central to their approach.

“We had a glitch but it was corrected. Those results are on IREV as we speak,” Oyekanmi affirmed. This statement reflects INEC’s commitment to ensuring that all electoral results are publicly available and verifiable.

Readiness for the Edo Governorship Election

Looking ahead, INEC is focused on the upcoming governorship election in Edo State. Oyekanmi expressed confidence in the commission’s preparedness, citing their experience with previous elections in the state. He highlighted that this will be the third governorship election conducted by the current commissioner in Edo, noting the successful outcomes of the 2016 and 2020 elections.

“This is the third governorship election we are conducting in Edo. This commissioner has the privilege to conduct the first one in 2016 and came out well. The second one in 2020 came out well and now we are going for the third one,

Original article:

“We’ve Learned Our Lessons” – INEC Admits Mistakes with Technology in 2023 Polls, Speaks on Edo Election | #Politicsnigeria The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged mistakes made during the 2023 elections, but assures Nigerians that it has learned from its experiences and is prepared for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State. In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, stated that the commission has corrected glitches that marred previous elections. He said technology, although helpful, is not foolproof and can experience downtime, citing examples of global tech companies like Facebook and Instagram. Oyekanmi said, “Technology is good; we have no doubt about it. It has helped the work of INEC; but I always say that technology is not a silver bullet; it does not solve all problems. “Take the pictures all around the world whether on Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. They have what they call downtime. It is a hard situation where you can’t access Facebook for 24 hours. And these are global tech companies that have what it takes not to even have glitches. “Your phone sometimes may misbehave; That is the way it’s. Nobody plans for failure. Even the South Africa you referred to, initially they had a glitch before they were able to correct it. But people don’t report that. They just talk about what they are doing. “We had a glitch but it was corrected. Those results are on IREV as we speak. The presidential election results are there for those who want to see. “We are ready for the Edo election. We have learnt our lessons. This is the third governorship election we are conducting in Edo. This commissioner has the privilege to conduct the first one in 2016 and came out well. The second one 2020 came out well and now we are going for the third one.”

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