Athena Centre presents report on INEC’s voting technology, launches Election Observatory, calls for improved electoral processes ahead of 2027 polls
Abuja, Nigeria — 6 October 2025
The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership on Monday, 6 October 2025, convened the public presentation of its independent review of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) report on election innovation and technology. The event also marked the formal launch of the Athena Election Observatory (AEO)—a research and policy platform dedicated to advancing electoral integrity and technological accountability in Nigeria and across Africa.
Held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the event drew representatives from political parties, civil society organisations, academia, the media, and key institutions, including INEC. It was compered by Maupe Ogun-Yusuf of Arise Television.
In his opening remarks, Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre, underscored that the gathering was “a public dialogue, not a debate,” designed to assess INEC’s progress in deploying election-day technologies while identifying gaps that must be addressed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Findings and Recommendations
Presenting the Athena Centre’s report, Mr Chidoka commended INEC for significant strides in electoral innovation—particularly through the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The report rated the Commission highly for innovation but noted moderate enforcement of compliance across electoral units.
The findings were informed by three virtual stakeholder workshops held in September, engaging representatives from political parties, civil society, and INEC itself.
Key recommendations from the report include:
- Continuous population of BVAS logs with the number of accredited voters on the IReV;
- Mandatory upload of Form EC8B to the IReV; and
- Granting full legal backing to all applications of election technology.
The presentation also drew from a citizen perception survey conducted by the Athena Centre in partnership with NOI Polls, which captured public attitudes toward INEC’s performance. While most respondents expressed confidence in the use of technology during elections, they also called for improved transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the Commission.
Panel Discussion: Deepening Electoral Reform
A high-level panel followed, featuring Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); and Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, who joined virtually. The discussion was moderated by Charles Aniagolu, Arise News anchor and special correspondent.
The panellists collectively praised INEC’s commitment to technological advancement but emphasised the need for sustained reform. Issues raised included overvoting, inconsistencies in the appointment process for INEC leadership, and judicial irregularities that risk undermining technological progress.
Launch of the Athena Election Observatory (AEO)
The event culminated in the official launch of the Athena Election Observatory (AEO)—an independent, evidence-based initiative to enhance the credibility and transparency of electoral processes. The AEO will deploy at least 1,000 observers during the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election in November 2025 to monitor and assess the performance of election technology and administration.
Expounding on the Observatory’s mission, Mr Chidoka stated:
“Our objective is to conduct independent post-election reviews, inform policy and legal reforms, develop benchmarking and evaluation tools, facilitate dialogue and knowledge exchange, and advance both cooperative and global learning. We also seek to promote a culture of continuous improvement and strengthen capacity across the entire electoral ecosystem.
Accordingly, our scope of work will encompass post-election analysis, electoral systems research, democracy monitoring, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination. Our flagship initiatives will include a tenured post-election dialogue series, an Electoral Health Scorecard, and an annual State of Elections in Africa report.
Our outputs will feature at least three research publications annually, post-election audit reports for general, off-cycle, and by-elections, policy toolkits and reform briefs, publicly accessible scorecards and benchmarking datasets, as well as high-profile dialogues and media engagement events.”
Institutional Support and Goodwill
In his goodwill message, Professor Abdullahi Zuru, INEC National Commissioner representing the Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, commended the Athena Centre for its sustained contribution to electoral research and reform. He acknowledged the credibility of Athena’s previous election audits and assured that INEC would carefully review and act upon the recommendations presented.
Distinguished guests at the event included Chief Olisa Metuh, former PDP National Publicity Secretary; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senate President; Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, 2023 Labour Party Vice-Presidential Candidate; and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, among others.
About the Athena Centre
The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership is an independent think tank dedicated to advancing evidence-based policymaking, leadership development, and institutional reform in Africa. Through interdisciplinary research, policy dialogue, and capacity building, Athena seeks to strengthen governance systems and foster inclusive, sustainable development.