Still on the 2023 Technical Glitches: Need to Overhaul Nigeria's Electoral Infrastructure Ahead of 2027 Elections

Introduction

The 2023 Nigerian general election marked a significant milestone in the nation's democratic journey, presenting an opportunity to reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to credible governance and electoral transparency. Yet, despite high expectations, the election was marred by pervasive technical glitches that cast doubt on the legitimacy of the process. These issues—ranging from malfunctioning biometric verification devices (BIVAS), result transmission delays, to power outages—disrupted voting procedures, disenfranchised voters, and fueled suspicions of manipulation and institutional incompetence. INEC officials often attributed these failures to unforeseen technical challenges, framing them as inevitable in deploying complex digital systems. However, such explanations tend to obscure deeper systemic issues, including infrastructural neglect, inadequate technological planning, and systemic lack of accountability. This essay critically examines these challenges and underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to undertake comprehensive reforms, emphasizing transparency, infrastructural resilience, and the engagement of patriotic Nigerian technologists committed to safeguarding electoral integrity.

The Nature of "Glitches" in Nigeria’s Electoral System

In the 2023 elections, "glitches" manifested across multiple critical touchpoints, exposing Nigeria’s systemic vulnerabilities. Foremost among these was the repeated failure of electronic BVAS machine—heralded as a transformative tool for electoral transparency. For one, BVAS could not prevent the alteration of results in some areas, in part because results did not appear on the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) system as promised. The real problems began when it came to transmitting the results of the presidential elections to the IREV portal in real-time. Partly as a result of poor communication of likely timelines, and partly due to unexplained delays, results were slow to start coming in, and never did for some areas, undermining public confidence. Reports from states like Kano and Kaduna revealed persistent failures due to software bugs, power disruptions, and network failures, resulting in hours-long delays and voter disenfranchisement. Such incidents were not isolated but indicative of systemic deficiencies—insufficient pre-election testing, infrastructural unpreparedness, and lack of contingency planning.

Similarly, the deployment of the INEC IReV, designed to enable real-time result transparency, faced frequent server crashes, internet disconnections, and sluggish uploads, especially in Lagos, Abuja, and other urban centers with congested networks. Power outages—particularly in rural and semi-urban areas—further compounded these issues, exposing Nigeria’s infrastructural fragility. Occasionally, software errors in collation systems caused discrepancies between physical results and online uploads, fueling suspicions about possible manipulation or tampering.    

These glitches collectively underscore the critical importance of deploying resilient, thoroughly tested, and well-maintained systems capable of withstanding Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges. Relying on reactive fixes or ad hoc solutions not only hampers operational efficiency but also erodes public trust, thereby deepening suspicions about electoral integrity. 

INEC’s Explanations vs. Ground Realities

INEC officials frequently framed these failures as "unforeseen challenges," citing network congestion, software bugs, power outages, and internet failures as unavoidable issues intrinsic to deploying digital electoral systems in Nigeria. For instance, INEC attributed BVAS failures in Kano and Kaduna to high voter turnout and software glitches, claiming such issues are temporary and normal. Similarly, delays in uploading results from Lagos and Abuja were attributed to poor internet connectivity, which officials maintained was an infrastructural deficiency beyond their control.

Critics and independent observers, however, argue that these explanations serve as convenient narratives that mask systemic failures. Reports from election observer groups, civil society organizations, and opposition parties suggest that Nigeria’s electoral agencies have consistently underinvested in resilient infrastructure—such as stable power supplies, secure data centers, and high-capacity internet networks—that are essential for credible digital elections. Moreover, the recurrent nature of these failures across multiple states points to systemic complacency—lacking pre-election testing, continuous system monitoring, and contingency planning—all of which are standard in well-managed digital systems worldwide.

The inadequate infrastructural foundation renders Nigeria’s electoral technology vulnerable, undermining the credibility of electoral outcomes and damaging public confidence in democratic institutions. Without urgent reforms, these systemic weaknesses will persist, further eroding electoral legitimacy.

Impact of Recurrent Glitches on Public Trust

Repeated technical failures over successive elections have inflicted profound damage on Nigeria’s electoral trust. Voters faced long queues, disenfranchisement, and inconsistent results, leading to widespread suspicion of manipulation. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints, allegations of electoral fraud, and conspiracy theories suggesting that glitches were exploited by unscrupulous actors or incompetent officials to manipulate outcomes. Technology is operated by people, and in countries with weak institutions, such as Nigeria with limited political trust, this can be a problem. Beyond the accreditation of voters, and transmission of polling unit results to the IREV portal, every other stage of the electoral process involves excessive human involvement, creating opportunities for manipulation. In the words of Maria Orozova, “Automation, optimization and other software implementations are only as effective as the human strategy around them”. In essence, for transformation to truly materialize, “the people, processes and technology have to all work together,”in order to build trust.

This erosion of trust threatens the very fabric of Nigeria’s democracy. When citizens perceive elections as flawed or manipulated, confidence in democratic institutions diminishes, leading to political apathy, protests, and even violence. Research indicates that electoral trust correlates strongly with democratic stability and long-term development. The pattern of failures in 2023 demonstrates that Nigeria’s electoral institutions lack the infrastructural resilience, technological robustness, and oversight mechanisms necessary to assure citizens that their votes are counted accurately and results genuinely reflect their will. Restoring this trust requires Nigeria to move beyond reactive blame-shifting and adopt a proactive approach centered on resilience, transparency, and accountability.

Case Examples from the 2023 Election

The experiences in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Rivers, and Enugu exemplify these systemic failures vividly. In Kano and Kaduna, repeated BVAS failures caused hours-long delays, disenfranchising thousands of voters. INEC officials attributed these to high turnout and software bugs, but opposition parties argued that such failures reflected systemic negligence or deliberate sabotage aimed at voter suppression.

In Lagos and Abuja, internet connectivity issues hindered timely result uploads, raising suspicions about possible manipulation and undermining transparency. Power outages at collation centers in Rivers and Enugu further delayed results, highlighting infrastructural fragility and the urgent need for backup power solutions. Some states experienced software crashes that caused discrepancies between physical results and online uploads, fueling doubts about electoral authenticity. These incidents demonstrate that Nigeria’s electoral glitches are symptomatic of deeper infrastructural, organizational, and technological deficiencies—issues that must be addressed to safeguard democratic legitimacy.

The Imperative for Systemic Reform and Transparency

The persistent recurrence of glitches underscores an urgent need for systemic reform. Nigeria must prioritize investments in resilient infrastructure—such as stable power supplies, high-capacity internet, secure data storage, and backup communication channels—that can withstand infrastructural deficiencies. According to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), resilient electoral systems require technological robustness, rigorous pre-election testing, continuous monitoring, and real-time troubleshooting.

Key reforms should include:

• Engagement of Dependable and Patriotic Vendors: Nigeria must prioritize partnerships with vendors committed to integrity and transparency. These vendors should operate under strict contractual obligations for continuous system monitoring, regular audits, and compliance with security standards—ensuring that systems remain resistant to manipulation and sabotage.
• Building a Skilled Nigerian Technologist Workforce: Entrusting the design, management, and monitoring of electoral systems to patriotic Nigerian software engineers, cybersecurity experts, and data analysts is essential. These professionals should possess a strong sense of national service, integrity, and patriotism, refusing to compromise electoral outcomes for monetary or political gains.
• Creating a Culture of Transparency and Accountability: Establishing independent oversight bodies that regularly audit and verify the systems and vendors involved in electoral technology deployment will foster accountability and public trust.
• Pre-Deployment Testing and Simulation Exercises: Institutionalized stress testing, vulnerability assessments, and simulated elections should be conducted periodically to identify and address potential weaknesses before actual elections.
• Enhanced Community Engagement: Citizens, civil society organizations, and local stakeholders should be involved in monitoring electoral technology deployment, to foster transparency and accountability at grassroots levels.

These reforms will help Nigeria build a more resilient, transparent electoral system that can withstand infrastructural challenges and restore faith in the democratic process.

Broader Democratic Implications

Electoral credibility underpins democratic consolidation. Repeated technical failures and the resulting doubts weaken citizens’ trust in institutions, risking social unrest, protests, and political instability—threatening Nigeria’s democratic progress. To reverse this trajectory, Nigeria must move beyond reactive explanations and foster a culture of transparency and resilience.

Although INEC insisted that despite the said "technical glitches," the results on the IReV portal were eventually updated and the outcome was valid, an important avenue for resolving this issue, is the convening of a well-structured, multi-stakeholder forum—a national, dispassionate gathering involving INEC officials, political parties, civil society, technologists, security agencies, and ordinary citizens. Such a platform would serve as a space for Nigerians to collectively engage in a transparent and honest conversation about what truly transpired on Election Day in 2023. It would offer INEC a valuable opportunity to explain, clarify, and perhaps apologize for any shortcomings, errors, or oversights—acknowledging the costs borne by Nigerians due to the glitches. This forum would not only foster understanding but also pave the way for reconciliation, forgiveness, and renewed trust in electoral institutions if INEC’s shortcomings were not intentional but due to systemic failures and resource constraints.

This transparent engagement will demonstrate INEC’s commitment to accountability and serve as a foundation for future electoral reforms—restoring faith and confidence among Nigerians, and creating a shared sense of ownership of Nigeria’s democratic future.

Conclusion

The recurring glitches that marred Nigeria’s 2023 elections reveal systemic vulnerabilities that threaten the country’s democratic stability. While some failures may be inevitable in deploying complex digital systems, their persistence and impact expose infrastructural neglect, organizational complacency, and inadequate oversight. Merely attributing these failures to "unforeseen challenges" is insufficient; Nigeria must undertake bold, comprehensive reforms. Overall, what failed in Nigeria was not the technology, but the people managing it. The vulnerability of the system to human interference appears to have led to major problems for two reasons. First, INEC appears to have insufficient time training its officials to avoid teething problems. Second, INEC effectively lost control over officials in some areas, so that due process was not followed, and the electoral process was effectively captured. A parallel vote tabulation conducted by YIAGA, for example, found that the results in Rivers and Imo states did not match their figures, and some officials operated in a partisan way. While various stakeholders, including INEC, are trying to rebuild Nigerians' confidence in the electoral process, another glitch in 2027 will greatly affect voter confidence.

Agathus Chibuike Mgbeahuruike is an election consultant at CDD-West Africa with over 15 years of experience in civil society governance. He has previously served as National Coordinator of the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Resident Election Consultant for the National Democratic Institute (NDI).