Blockchain can reduce result manipulation in Nigeria’s elections, experts say

Blockchain technology experts in Nigeria say the country could improve trust in its elections by using blockchain systems to secure voting results.

Though they warned the idea would need careful testing before any nationwide rollout.

The proposal was discussed during an online forum organised by the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), where industry leaders and election officials examined whether blockchain could help solve long-standing concerns over election transparency.

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Speakers said the technology could make election results more secure by recording them in a system that cannot easily be altered.

Oluwaseun Dania, chief executive of Alpha-Geek Technologies, said the aim was not to change how Nigerians vote but to protect the votes that are cast.

“Blockchain is not there to change how Nigerians vote. It protects the integrity of the votes. If results are recorded on a public blockchain, everyone can see them and verify them,” Dania said during the discussion.

Nigeria’s elections have improved in recent years, but many voters still doubt whether their votes are properly counted, contributing to low voter turnout in some elections.

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Dania said blockchain could help address this trust gap by creating a time-stamped and verifiable record of votes from polling units to final collation centres.

However, he cautioned that Nigeria should adopt a gradual approach rather than move immediately to full electronic voting.

Instead, he proposed starting with basic elements such as placing the national voter register and identification systems on a secure blockchain. Another step could involve using blockchain only for transmitting results from polling units, allowing independent verification of the data.

Other experts also highlighted possible technical models.

Harry Ugorji, chief executive of Egoras Technology, suggested that polling agents could upload scanned election result forms to a blockchain-backed system. Artificial intelligence could extract the data and store it in smart contracts while the files themselves are stored on distributed networks such as the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).

He said, this process, could allow election results to be verified almost instantly and reduce the period between voting and final announcements when manipulation is often suspected.

Despite the enthusiasm, participants said Nigeria faces challenges including limited internet access and low digital literacy in some areas.

Representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos, Taiwo Gbadegesin said election management involves a continuous process beyond voting day, including monitoring political parties and maintaining voter records.

He noted that the commission has already introduced online pre-registration for voters to improve the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process.

The system allows Nigerians, including those abroad, to begin registration or update personal details online before visiting a registration centre for biometric capture.

Gbadegesin said this approach reduces errors and shortens the final in-person registration process to a few minutes.

Speakers at the forum agreed that blockchain solutions should first be tested in smaller elections, such as university student union polls or other micro-elections, before being considered for national use.

The group also said successful adoption would depend on regulatory approval and willingness from political stakeholders to accept a system where results, once recorded, cannot be changed.

While blockchain is not a magic solution, the experts said it could form part of broader reforms aimed at restoring confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.