Technology and Electoral Ad-Hoc Staff Management in Nigeria: An Analysis of INEC During the 2023 General Election in Bayelsa State

Frank Prince Diepreye; Ph.D

doi:10.56201/jpaswr.v11.no1.2026.pg18.33

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Technology and Electoral Ad-Hoc Staff Management in Nigeria: An Analysis of INEC During the 2023 General Election in Bayelsa State

Frank Prince Diepreye, Ph.D

Abstract

Digital technology adoption in Nigerian elections, culminating in the 2023 deployment of BVAS and IReV, represents institutional commitment yet revealed significant challenges. This paper analyses how technology influenced INEC's management of electoral ad-hoc staff during the 2023 general elections in Bayelsa State across pre-election, election-day, and post-election phases. Using a mixed-methods design with structured questionnaires administered to 388 INEC and ad- hoc employees across eight Local Government Areas and semi-structured interviews with 15 key informants, complemented by document analysis, the study found that INECPRES improved accessibility and reduced local interference, though digital inequalities persisted in riverine and low-income communities and upper-level positions remained subject to offline discretionary decisions. Hybrid training models with videos and web-based resources enhanced procedural clarity, but compressed timelines and limited digital literacy compromised sustained capacity. BVAS and WhatsApp communication facilitated coordination and accuracy in well-resourced areas; however, infrastructure deficits including poor internet connectivity, unreliable electricity, and logistical challenges in Bayelsa's riverine terrain significantly reduced operational effectiveness. IReV platforms provided post-election transparency archives but remained underutilized as real-time management tools. The research concludes that technology serves as a force multiplier of underlying institutional capacity, amplifying weaknesses where infrastructure and human competence are constrained. Critical recommendations include sequencing technology adoption, integrating context-sensitive design enabling state-level flexibility, investing in sustained digital literacy, and linking reforms with legal frameworks protecting technological procedures from political contestation.

Keywords

Election TechnologyINECElectoral managementBayelsa stateand ad-hoc staff performance.

References

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Technology and Electoral Ad-Hoc Staff Management in Nigeria: An Analysis of INEC During the 2023 General Election in Bayelsa State

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