The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled a new arsenal of digital applications designed to reshape the conduct of elections across Nigeria.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, says the unveiling marks a significant stride in the nation’s journey towards transparent, efficient, and technology-driven electoral processes.
The tools—launched during a retreat at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos—are central to the Commission’s ongoing digital transformation agenda aimed at bolstering public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system, according to the INEC Chairman.
“These technologies will transform everything from voter registration to results collation,” Professor Yakubu tells participants, underscoring the innovations as a landmark for future elections.
These technologies will transform everything from voter registration to results collation,” Professor Yakubu tells participants, underscoring the innovations as a landmark for future elections.
INEC: Digital leap signalls new chapter in Nigeria’s electoral future
The Commission is introducing eight homegrown digital platforms, six of which are for internal operations, while two—Political Party Financial Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS) and Electoral Facility Locator (EFLOC)—feature public-facing interfaces designed to improve voter and party engagement.
New INEC Election Management Tools INEC’s digital toolkit includes the following applications:
- CROMS – Collation & Returning Officers Management System
- ERMS – Election Results Management System
- VETS – Virtual Election Training System
- PFRAS – Political Party Financial Reporting and Audit System
- EMSC Dashboard – Election Monitoring & Support Centre
- EFLOC – Electoral Facility Locator
Each platform is crafted to address specific electoral pain points, from internal staff training and results transmission to enhancing public access to electoral data.
The EFLOC app, for instance, enables voters to locate polling units and access registration details, while PFRAS facilitates real-time financial reporting by political parties.
According to INEC, development of the applications spans two and a half years and was led by the Commission’s ICT Department to ensure autonomy, security, and adaptability.
“INEC’s full ownership of the platforms gives us the autonomy to refine them based on operational realities,” Professor M.J. Kuna, a senior official of the Commission, explains. “This reduces our reliance on third-party vendors and strengthens our ability to adapt quickly.”
Training and integration already underway
INEC is already deploying VETS and the EMSC Dashboard in recent off-cycle elections in Ondo and Edo States, as part of a broader digital pilot. Plans are also underway to roll out ITEMS, an integrated platform that will consolidate all eight applications into a unified system to streamline data exchange across departments.
Twelve digital training modules are being developed under the VETS platform to build institutional capacity among INEC staff, ensuring consistent and effective use of the new systems.
“These processes help reduce human error, save time, and enhance the overall credibility and effectiveness of election management,” Professor Kuna says.
Live demonstrations of the Virtual Election Training System (VETS), Political Party Financial Reporting and Audit System (PFRAS), and CROMS were conducted by INEC officials during the retreat, highlighting the practical capabilities of the digital innovations.
The integration of these applications with INEC’s existing cloud infrastructure is expected to boost data security, enhance inter-departmental coordination, and fortify the Commission’s capacity to conduct credible elections, according to the elections manager.
With this digital leap, INEC says it is signalling a new chapter in Nigeria’s electoral future—one where technology is not only a tool, but a cornerstone of transparency and democratic credibility.
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