Professor Pat Utomi, a member of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to embrace greater use of technology at polling units ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, Utomi argued that voters, observers and other stakeholders should be allowed to use technological devices to document and livestream activities at polling units, saying such measures could strengthen transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
He specifically advocated the deployment of body cameras and live-streaming technology at polling booths nationwide.
“The election should be technologised; body cams, live streaming from every polling booth in the country,” Utomi said.
He also questioned restrictions that could prevent citizens from using technology to independently monitor elections, warning that such restrictions could undermine confidence in the electoral process.
“If INEC tells us that people can’t bring things to make elections transparent, then they are criminals who want the elections not to be transparent,” he said.
Utomi further argued that election monitoring should not depend solely on political party agents, noting that some parties may lack the resources to deploy agents to every polling unit. He said technology could provide additional independent documentation of voting, counting and result declaration.
“There’s a way that opposition can, will, and is currently collaborating that will ensure that people be made aware that their votes can count. If people become aware that their votes can count, and they come out and vote, it’s not a 300,000 Nigerian police force that can prevent the people’s will from taking place.”
Comparing Nigeria with the United Kingdom and the United States, Utomi said the media plays a significant role in monitoring elections in those countries.
“Do you know who the chair of the electoral commission is in the UK? In the US, I have no clue. Results come from the media who are monitoring elections.”
He also criticised the use of public funds for political campaigns, describing such practice as criminal and calling for greater accountability among politicians.
“One day I would like to see politicians go to jail for spending public money to run for office. I’m going to prosecute it in the international community someday because it’s thievery. It is criminality, but they do it.”
Utomi’s comments come as political parties and candidates intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election. President Bola Tinubu is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
INEC has published regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections and currently operates the IReV platform, through which members of the public can view polling-unit results and scanned result sheets.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to INEC’s official election calendar.
