THE CARD READER MACHINE AND THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS: A CASE STUDY OF EDO STATE (NIGERIA)

ABSTRACT

 The issue in the 2015 general elections in Nigeria was the use of the Card Reader Machine. The Card Reader was a critical component in the elections. It was used for the first time in the electoral process of Nigeria and it remains one of the greatest technological innovations of the 2015 general elections. The Card Reader is a technological device setup to authenticate and verify on Election Day a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) issued by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The fundamental basis for the deployment of the technologically-based device by INEC was to ensure a credible, transparent, free and fair election in order to deepen Nigeria’s democracy. 

However, This research work has been able to examine the rationale for the introduction of Card Reader Machine, examine whether the introduction of Card Reader Machine can lead to election credibility, it has also been able to vividly explain the fundamental issues underlying the use of Card Reader Machine in 2015 general elections and examine in details the limiting factors of Card Reader Machine and equally examine ways the Card Reader Machine can be enhanced to produce credible elections.

In addition, this research essay was able to analyse the introduction of various electoral machines in different continent of the world using countries like Kenya, Ghana, India, Philippine e.t.c as case study and how it was used in the conduct of their elections. The research also examines the debates and the legality of the use of Card Reader Machine in 2015 general elections. This research work also looks at the challenges and impact of the Card Reader Machine. The research also made use of Simple Percentage and Chi-Square to analyse the data collected and it was discovered that there is no relationship between the introduction of Card Reader machine and election credibility.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ContentsPages

Title Page ------------------------------------------------------------------------------i

Certification  --------------------------------------------------------------------------ii

Dedication -----------------------------------------------------------------------------iii

Acknowledgement ------------------------------------------------------------------iv

Abstract --------------------------------------------------------------------------------v

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.0Background to the Study --------------------------------------------------1

1.1Statement of the Problem ------------------------------------------------4

1.2Research Questions ---------------------------------------------------------6

1.3Objectives of the Study ----------------------------------------------------7

1.3Research Hypotheses ------------------------------------------------------8

1.4Significance of the Study---------------------------------------------------8

1.5Scope of the Study-----------------------------------------------------------9

1.6Limitation of the Study------------------------------------------------------9

1.7Conceptual Clarifications---------------------------------------------------9

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0Nigerian Elections: An Evaluation ---------------------------------------15

2.1The  Card Reader Machine in 2015 election ------------------------17

2.2Technology And Election: The World View----------------------------20

2.3African Experience-----------------------------------------------------------20

2.4The Asian Experience-------------------------------------------------------22

2.5The South American Experience-----------------------------------------23

2.6The North American Experience-----------------------------------------25

2.7 Legal Framework And Judicial Verdict On The Use Of Card Reader Machine

In Nigeria ----------------------------------------------------------------------26

2.8 Vote of No Confidence on INEC Chairman----------------------------31

2.9Theoretical Framework ----------------------------------------------------32

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 

3.0 Methodology --------------------------------------------------------------------35

3.1 Research Design -----------------------------------------------------------------35

3.2 Sampling Size And Sampling Techniques ---------------------------------35

3.3 Population of Study ------------------------------------------------------------35

3.4 Sources Data ---------------------------------------------------------------------36

3.5 Instrument of Data Collection------------------------------------------------ 36

3.6 Techniques of Data Analysis ------------------------------------------------- 37

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.0 Card Reader Machine And 2015 General Election: A Case Study of Edo State:                    An Empirical Analysis ------------------------------------------------------------------38

4.1 Percentage Presentation -----------------------------------------------------------38

4.2 Percentage Presentation of Questionnaire Distributed ---------------------41

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0 Summary --------------------------------------------------------------------------57

5.1 Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------58

5.2 Recommendations--------------------------------------------------------------59

Bibliography 

Appendix