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Technology and Election Management: Assessing Application in Ad-Hoc Staff Recruitment during the 2023 General Election in Nigeria

Frank Prince Diepreye and Dr Ogedi Jacob

Abstract

Nigeria has made gradual and sustained progress in her electoral process from the introduction of the electronic register of voters between 2003 to 2007, to the introduction of the BVAS and IReV ahead of the 2023 general election. These technological advancements have revolutionized electoral processes in Nigeria in a bid to improve credibility. Yet, concerns persist concerning the credibility of the process as well as the integrity of electoral staff. Specifically, ad-hoc staff have been widely criticised as complicit parties to some malpractices perpetrated during elections. This study proposes the adoption of technology in the recruitment and deployment of ad-hoc staff to improve the recruitment of quality personnel and minimise, human interference and limit the possibility of political influence. The objective of the study was to assess practices in the application of technology in the recruitment of electoral ad-hoc staff in Nigeria's elections. Grounded in institutional theory, the research explored the institutional and societal constraints hindering full technological adoption in recruitment processes. Employing a descriptive survey research design, data from primary and secondary sources were analysed thematically, Findings showed that despite some advancements made such as the creation of INEC Portal for Recruitment of Electoral Staff (INEC PRES), the recruitment process remained largely manual and susceptible to manipulation. The use of technology was also found not to improve the recruitment of qualified personnel or obliterated human interference. This, as findings revealed, steamed from challenges including training dependency, external influences, resource limitations and limits in legal and operational provisions for the use of technology in ad-hoc staff recruitment. Recommendations included fully automating recruitment processes and improving commitment to credible election by credible electoral staff throug

Keywords

Technology Institutional Theory Electoral Staff Qualified Ad-Hoc Staff

References

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