Beyond Ballots: How tech initiatives amplify citizen voices in 2023 polls

The 2023 Nigerian general election was a rollercoaster of emotions. Hope soared with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) deployment of cutting-edge technologies like the Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). These innovations promised transparency, efficiency, and a chance to rebuild trust in the electoral process. However, as polling day unfolded, faith faltered in the face of irregularities and logistical snafus.

But amidst the disillusionment, a spark of hope emerged from an unexpected corner: technology-driven civic initiatives. Fueled by a shared yearning for a stronger democracy, organisations like Civic Hive, TheCable Index, and Stears Insight rose to the challenge of empowering citizens and ensuring electoral integrity.

Civic Hive, led by Oluwaseun Afolabi, spearheaded the creation of a groundbreaking electoral data platform. This real-time reservoir of historical and current election results aimed to break the traditional mould of manual collation and analysis. Users from all walks of life could readily access clear, interactive data, empowering them to understand the electoral landscape and hold both candidates and institutions accountable.

The platform’s intuitive interface, coupled with a nationwide awareness campaign, resonated with Nigerians. During the presidential election, it witnessed a breathtaking surge in traffic, drawing in nearly a million visitors eager to monitor the polls. This overwhelming response underscored the public’s yearning for transparency and the platform’s role in filling the critical information gap.

But Civic Hive’s impact went beyond numbers. Its map feature, with its dynamic colour code visualization, transformed election data into a captivating narrative, allowing users to track the ebb and flow of political momentum across the country. This visual storytelling resonated with the public and media alike, cementing the platform as a vital contributor to a more informed electorate.

TheCable Index, known for its data-driven journalism, played a crucial role in holding power to account. As the data arm of TheCable newspaper, we witnessed a 164% audience growth fueled by our insightful infographics, election analyses, and in-depth “Candidate Lowdown” project.

Our analysis of the exorbitant cost of political party forms ignited nationwide conversation, highlighting the systemic barriers preventing ordinary citizens from entering the political arena. It sparked significant change, with some parties even considering adopting free forms.

Beyond mere analysis, TheCable Index also transformed X (formerly Twitter) into a dynamic election hub. Our team used eye-catching infographics to visualise historical data and state-by-state party dominance, while real-time results and local-level analysis streamed directly from polling stations. This constant flow of information kept Nigerians engaged and informed throughout the electoral process.

The 2023 Nigerian elections, despite their imperfections, served as a testament to the power of technology in bolstering democracy. The efforts of Civic Hive, TheCable Index, and other similar initiatives demonstrate the immense potential of digital platforms to empower citizens, bridge the information gap, and hold power accountable.

While much work remains to be done, the seeds of change have been sown. As technology continues to evolve and civic engagement strengthens, Nigeria’s path towards a more transparent and inclusive democracy appears brighter than ever.

Ejechi is a Nigerian data analyst and Journalist. He can be reached via [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) @victorejechi