Information and communication technology (ICT) and democratic consolidation: a study of the 2023 general elections in Nigeria

Abstract

Elections serve as a means of changing government at regular intervals in a democratic state. However, it is expected that elections should be credible, free, fair and transparent so that electorates would have confidence that their votes are counted. In order to ensure the integrity in the conduct of elections, technologies are deployed in most states with a view to curbing election rigging. This paper examined the 2023 elections and the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in order to ascertain the challenges inherent in the conducts of election. In achieving this, the paper made use of secondary sources of data such as relevant textbooks, journal articles, newspapers, internet, etc while communication theory provided the framework. The study revealed that influence of technologies on the conduct of the elections shattered citizens’ expectations thus making the opposition parties contesting the outcomes in the courts. Therefore, democracy that supposed to be immune was marred by the technology in Nigeria. The paper further revealed in theoretical insight that factors such as complexity of the Nigerian state and the alien root of liberal democracy, influence of political elite, poverty and failure of social services have negative significant influence on electoral technology in Nigeria. The paper, therefore, recommended among others that the INEC should improve on the use of ICT and make it friendly with a view to curbing electoral fraud so that democracy will be consolidated in Nigeria.