The 2024 Edo State governorship election once again spotlighted the lingering challenges within Nigeria's electoral system, particularly issues of result management, logistics, and the integrity of the electoral process. The observations from leading civil society organizations like Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Yiaga Africa, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and TAF Africa further amplified these concerns. Their reports, alongside the post-election analysis from KDI, using the Ballot Integrity Project (BIP) methodology, echoed many familiar concerns that have plagued elections in Nigeria for decades. From vote buying, logistical failures to discrepancies in result collation and inflated vote counts, the systemic inefficiencies were glaring.

While these challenges may seem intractable, there is a clear path forward, one that Nigeria’s youth have already charted through the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP_Naija). This initiative, a product of the Youth-led Electoral Reform Advocacy Consortium, had already identified and highlighted these very challenges as core areas requiring reform. Through extensive research, youth consultations, and policy dialogues, YERP_Naija has proposed specific recommendations to address the systemic problems in Nigeria's elections. These recommendations are not just theoretical but are grounded in data and reflective of the aspirations of a younger generation that is eager to see Nigeria’s democracy evolve and if adopted could address many of the issues that marred the Edo 2024 governorship election and the previous elections in Nigeria.

Electoral Reform: A Growing Imperative

The KDI post election statement on the Edo election brought to light a number of concerns that underscore the necessity of electoral reform. Among the most pressing was the logistical failings, such as the inability to handle environmental disruptions, that may have led to rain-damaged ballots. Similarly, Yiaga Africa’s mid-day situational report highlighted logistical delays, including late arrival of electoral materials, voter intimidation, and vote buying. Their observers documented attempts to circumvent the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), pointing to the continued manipulation of key technological tools meant to improve electoral transparency. Even though these issues are not new, they have become more critical with each election cycle. The stakes are high for Nigeria, where elections remain the cornerstone of democratic governance.

Result Management and Transparency: A Key Issue

A recurrent issue in Nigerian elections is the result management process, and the 2024 Edo election was no exception. KDI flagged inflated results in several polling units, the vulnerability of the collation process, overvoting in numerous polling units, and raised alarms about the lack of transparency in vote collation. This has been a persistent challenge that erodes public confidence in electoral outcomes. The YERP_Naija recommendations include calls for a more automated and transparent collation process, as well as the use of technology to ensure that all votes are accurately recorded and reflected in the final tally. Implementing these reforms would minimize human error and reduce opportunities for vote manipulation.

Moreover, the 20,167 missing votes that KDI reported in Edo reflect a glaring gap in INEC's process, one that could be closed by strengthening the digital infrastructure around result management. Young people, through YERP_Naija, have consistently advocated for the adoption of advanced result tracking technologies, arguing that this is critical to ensuring that every vote counts.

The Problem of Vote Buying

Another critical issue that surfaced in the Edo election was the prevalence of vote buying. While KDI’s BIP analysis accurately predicted a lower margin of lead between the major candidates, it also highlighted the pervasive role that money played in influencing voter behavior. The YERP_Naija youth recommendations had identified vote buying as a core challenge to electoral integrity and proposed several solutions, including stricter enforcement of existing laws and the prosecution of offenders to serve as a deterrent.

Moreso, we believe that addressing this issue requires more than just legislative action; it calls for civic education campaigns targeted at youth and first-time voters. The youth recommendations emphasize empowering citizens to reject financial inducements and hold politicians accountable, building a culture of electoral integrity from the grassroots level.

Logistical Failures: A Preventable Crisis

The logistical challenges faced during the Edo election, including issues with distribution of materials and polling unit disruptions, are yet another sign of the need for systemic reform. According to KDI, environmental factors such as rain could be one of the factors that led to a significant number of rejected votes, highlighting the lack of contingency planning by INEC. This logistical inefficiency has become a recurring theme in Nigeria’s elections, and it disproportionately affects the integrity of the voting process.

In the lead-up to the election, YERP_Naija had proposed several reforms aimed at strengthening logistical preparedness, including better coordination between INEC and other electoral stakeholders to ensure timely deployment of materials and personnel.

The Role of Young People in Electoral Reform

The Edo election serves as a reminder of why Nigeria’s electoral system is in desperate need of reform. But more importantly, it highlights the value of youth voices in shaping the future of the country’s democracy. Through initiatives like YERP_Naija, young Nigerians have demonstrated their commitment to electoral reform by proposing realistic, data-backed solutions that could improve the credibility and transparency of elections.

The reforms proposed by YERP_Naija, if implemented, would address many of the key challenges seen in Edo. From improving result management to combating vote buying and strengthening logistical planning, these recommendations have the potential to transform Nigeria’s electoral landscape. Young people are not just passive participants in the democratic process; they are the architects of its future.

The outcome of the 2024 Edo election should be a wake-up call to policymakers: the time for electoral reform is now, and the solutions are already on the table. By embracing the insights and recommendations from young Nigerians through YERP_Naija, Nigeria can build an electoral system that is transparent, efficient, and truly representative of the will of its people.

The recommendations from YERP_Naija, developed by young Nigerians who have systematically studied the electoral process, offer a clear path to solving these issues. It is time for Nigeria’s electoral stakeholders, from INEC to the National Assembly, to take these recommendations seriously. If Nigeria is to build a truly democratic future, it must start by listening to its youth and embracing the reforms they have advocated for.