joshuaEOLV: Ex-Presidential Candidate, Prof Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies Hails NOA, FMINO, NANS
Ayo Ola
A former presidential candidate, Prof Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has said that The Electronic OnLine Voting (EOLV) adopted by the National Orientation Agency while presenting the Grand Finale of the 7 for 7 National Values Charter Campus Debate and Capacity-Building Debate 2024 at Lagos, Nigeria, is highly notable and commendable.”
The caption for the Debate was “CRITICIZING AND DISSENTING PEACEFULLY WHILE MAINTAINING LOVE FOR ONE’S COUNTRY”. The event was in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (FMINO) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
This prestigious event which aimed at promoting national values and demonstrating the achievements of Nigerian youth, while re-orientating all Nigerians in general, took place today, Tuesday 17th December, 2024 @ 9:00 am. The final result reveals, “LADOKE UNIVERSITY – 1st Position; ABU – 2nd Position; University of Ilorin – 3rd position; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education Port Harcourt (IAUE) – 4th position; Gombe State Polytechnic – 5th position and IMT Enugu in the 6th position.”
The Debate brought together students from various campuses across the country to engage in intellectual debates and capacity-building sessions; accompanied by Live Broadcast at 11:00 am on TVC, Channels TV, Arise and NTA amongst others, during which participants and observers were made to cast their votes for their favorite team, clicking on an online link.
Former female presidential candidate Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies said, “The need to embrace Electronic OnLine Voting (EOLV) system in 2027 elections in Nigeria can neither be overlooked nor overstressed as just demonstrated at the just conclude debate. This push for digital transformation in Nigeria’s electoral process is driven by the numerous advantages it offers, as the Holy writ says, ‘WISDOM IS PROFITABLE TO DIRECT” – Ecclesiastes 10:10 (KJV).
This scriptural verse highlights the importance of wisdom in guiding and directing our decisions and actions. It emphasizes that wisdom is a valuable and profitable resource that can help us navigate life’s choices and challenges and make informed choices as a Nation towards national prosperity.
Prof Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has been a vocal advocate for electoral reform in Nigeria. As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of conducting free and fair plus expensive elections, Adesanya-Davies’ calls for the adoption of Electronic OnLine Voting (EOLV) in 2027 which she said is both timely and necessary.
She elucidates: “Voting in Nigeria’s electoral process has been marred by allegations of excessive funds, fraud, violence, and disenfranchisement. The use of manual voting systems has been criticized for its susceptibility to manipulation and the lack of transparency in the counting process. Therefore, EOLV offers a solution to these problems by providing a secure, transparent, and efficient means of casting and counting votes.
Adesanya-Davies asserts, “Benefits of Electronic Online Voting would include: Increased accessibility for all voters, even voters with disabilities, those living in remote areas, and Nigerians in the diaspora. This can lead to higher voter turnout and a more representative election outcome.”
She added, “Towards Improved Efficiency: EOLV would automate the counting process, reducing the risk of human error and speeding up the announcement of election results; while there would be no sharing of money to/amongst the delegates.
It would, “Enhance Security because Modern EOLV systems incorporate advanced security features, such as encryption and voter verification processes, to protect the integrity of the election,” she further explains.
Speaking about “Environmental Benefits”, Adesanya-Davies said, “EOLV would reduce the environmental impact of elections by minimizing the need for people to be running around, travelling from one place to another, paper ballots and other materials.”
Again, she said, “Electronic Online Voting (EOLV) benefits would include “Less Funding” with its
advantages of cost savings, such as no paper usage, no printing and distribution costs, as well as minimized logistical expenses. We would recall that, “The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had budgeted a total sum of N355 billion for the polls in the 2023 fiscal year budget for the election.”
Adesanya-Davies concludes, “The adoption of Electronic OnLine Voting in Nigeria would be a necessary step towards enhancing and ensuring the integrity and transparency of the country’s electoral process, while cutting down costs in view of the current individual’s poverty level, low standard of living and the nation’s poor economy.”
Overall, “The adoption of electronic online voting in Nigeria’s 2027 elections has the potential to transform the country’s electoral process by.minimizing costs, increasing accessibility, improving efficiency, enhancing security, increasing voter participation, and reducing environmental impact, online voting can help ensure that Nigeria’s elections are free, fair, and transparent. By implementing EOLV systems, our governments can reap these benefits while minimizing costs.”
As a former presidential candidate, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies’ advocacy for EOLV is a testament to her commitment to democratic values and her desire to see Nigeria’s democracy thrive “… and this will happen one day by the special grace of God, she said. By embracing EOLV, Nigeria can take a significant step towards becoming a beacon of democracy in Africa.
