Digitalize Voting System and Electronic Transmission of Election Results in Nigeria: Insights from the 2023 Presidential Election

This research paper examines the political calculations surrounding the motivation for the passage of the bill for the transmission of election results by the Nigerian parliament. It argues that the e-transmission of election results generated mixed reactions among parliamentarians, especially between members of the All Progressive Congress and the People Democratic Party. While research attention has been paid to the utility-value and importance of e-transmission of results, there is very little research on what exactly is the undercurrent for the failure of INEC to timely release the 2023 presidential election results. Prior to the 2023 general election, INEC had promised to transmit the election results electronically. While this initiative drew massive attention and commendation, it also raises suspicion for the sustenance of such an initiative by INEC. Drawing on secondary sources of data collection, this paper found that the inability of INEC to timely transmit the 2023 presidential election results generated mixed reactions, possibly reducing public trust and marring the public image of Nigeria's electoral body globally and nationally. It concluded that INEC's report on technical hitches, ICT failure, and attacks on its Result Viewing Portal (IREV) significantly undermine the sustainability of digitalise voting system and electronic transmission of results (ETRs) in Nigeria.