- Senator Seriake Dickson criticizes the APC for failing to implement significant electoral reforms, emphasizing the need for technology in elections
- Dickson calls for a transparent electoral process by 2027, where losing candidates can acknowledge defeat and congratulate winners confidently
Senator Seriake Dickson has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to show interest in sanitizing Nigeria’s electoral system over the past eight years. In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, Dickson expressed concern over the absence of significant electoral reforms under the APC’s leadership.
Dickson emphasized the importance of deploying technology to reduce human interference and manipulation during elections. He highlighted the efforts made by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, when the use of card readers was introduced to enhance the integrity of the electoral process. According to Dickson, this was a significant step forward that should have been built upon in subsequent years.
He lamented that the APC has not demonstrated a commitment to advancing electoral reforms, particularly in applying technology. Dickson argued that embracing technology would ensure that election results are electronically verifiable and announced at polling units with minimal human interference. He also called for security agencies to play their roles effectively, ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and transparently.
Dickson concluded by expressing hope that by 2027, Nigeria could achieve an electoral system where losing candidates can confidently acknowledge their defeat and congratulate the winners, thanks to a transparent and technology-driven process.