How The Blockchain Can Ensure Free & Fair Elections in Nigeria

Nigeria, with a population exceeding 400 million and 93 million registered voters, has long been plagued by electoral malpractices, violence, and vote-buying. These persistent issues have contributed to widespread distrust in the country's electoral commission, INEC.

The recent election was tumultuous and far from being free and fair, with incidents of voter assault, vote buying, and various forms of electoral malpractice reported. Nigeria employs the BVAS system for elections, requiring voters to thumbprint on a machine for verification before casting their votes on a ballot paper. Post-election, the votes are gathered, transmitted to INEC servers for storage, and subsequently announced on national television.

The problem with this system is its susceptibility to manipulation, and there is substantial evidence indicating that the system has been compromised. Widespread reports of a malfunctioning BVAS system and server connectivity issues have emerged across the country. Additionally, the dubious timing of the vote announcement has cast significant doubt in the minds of voters regarding the accurate counting of their votes. Reports also surfaced that servers were intentionally shut down when the votes were not favoring a particular direction, resulting in a significant loss of votes. Additionally, there were instances of votes being uploaded immediately after the announcement of the winner and some votes not being uploaded at all, despite being declared at their respective polling units.

These issues could be mitigated if the country adopts blockchain technology for its electoral processes. While there are numerous advantages to utilizing blockchain for elections in Nigeria, there are also challenges, though they are surmountable. However, before explaining the benefits and challenges, it is essential to explain what blockchain technology is.

What is Blockchain Technology?

Blockchain technology is a decentralized and distributed ledger system, just like a spreadsheet, that securely and transparently records and stores data across numerous computers. Its immutability means that once information is added, it cannot be altered or erased, similar to writing with permanent ink rather than pencil. Here’s a neat example of how it works:

• Someone wants to record a transaction (like sending money or storing data)
• This transaction is grouped with others into a “block”
• The block is verified by multiple computers in the network
• Once verified, the block is added to the “chain” of previous blocks
• Every computer in the network updates their copy

Think of it like a huge, shared Google Doc, except:

• Nobody can delete or change past entries
• Everyone can see who made what changes
• No single person controls it

The key benefits are:

1. Security: It’s extremely difficult to hack or alter
2. Transparency: Everyone can see the same information
3. Decentralization: No single authority controls it
4. Trust: You don’t need to trust any one person or organization

Now that we understand what the Blockchain is and how it works, let’s now talk about its benefits for the electoral system in Nigeria

Benefits of the Blockchain for Elections

1. Immutable and Transparent Voting Records: Once a vote is cast, it is uploaded to the blockchain in an encrypted form and it cannot be altered or deleted. This ensures that every vote is permanently recorded and verifiable, providing transparency and trustworthiness to the voting process. This also allows voters and observers to monitor the process in real-time.
2. Voter Authentication and Identity Verification: This addresses the issue of voter impersonation and underage voting. The blockchain can integrate with the National Identity Management System (NIMS) to securely verify voters' identity. Voter registration could include biometric data (fingerprints, facial recognition), which is then linked to a secure digital ID on the blockchain. The smart contract created will ensure that each person can vote only once and only if they meet the required criteria.
3. Secure and Accessible Online Voting: The blockchain enables secure online or mobile voting, making it much easier for Nigerians living in remote areas, those with disabilities or citizens living outside the country to cast their votes without having to travel to a polling station. The votes are end to end encrypted securely on the blockchain ensuring voter privacy. Estonian elections use a similar approach with internet voting integrated with blockchain to enhance security.
4. Real-Time Results and Instant Audits: As votes are cast, they are recorded in real-time on the blockchain. This allows stakeholders and voters to monitor the election progress. The blockchain creates a detailed record of all transactions, making it easy to conduct post-election audits. Instant results reduce the chances of manipulation during counting and collation of results, which is a big issue in Nigeria.
5. Reduced Corruption Through Decentralization: The current centralized system is very prone to tampering by corrupt electoral and party officials. To solve this, the blockchain is built on a decentralized network where there is no single point of control. Any changes to the ledger would require consensus across all nodes in the network, making it virtually impossible to manipulate results. Election rules (such as automatic disqualification of invalid votes) can be enforced through smart contracts, further reducing human interference.

Challenges

While the blockchain has many benefits, there are still some challenges that needs to be addressed before it can be fully implemented.

1. Digital Infrastructure: Reliable internet access throughout Nigeria is crucial for implementing blockchain-based voting. Additionally, the challenges related to electricity supply must be resolved prior to the adoption of blockchain technology.
2. Public Education: Many Nigerians are unfamiliar with blockchain technology and would need training on a blockchain based system.
3. Government and Stakeholder Buy-in: Collaboration with INEC, political parties, and civil society organizations is critical for implementing blockchain-based elections.
4. Cost: Setting up a blockchain-based electoral system requires significant initial investment in infrastructure, training, and system development. Maintaining the system will also require significant resources.
5. Rapid and Extensive Tests: While blockchain is secure, implementation vulnerabilities could arise. Proper system design, testing, and regular audits will be crucial.

Blockchain technology can transform Nigeria’s electoral system by ensuring that the system is transparent, secure and accessible. By addressing the key challenges and leveraging its benefits, the blockchain has a potential to restore trust in the democratic process in Nigeria and ensure that there are free and fair elections.