Elections provide an opportunity for citizens to participate in politics and hold leaders to account. When they work well, elections can deepen civic engagement, inform public debate, stimulate party competition, facilitate peaceful leadership transitions, hold governments accountable, and allow the non-violent resolution of political conflict.
Too often political contests fail to achieve their objectives. There is widespread concern about falling turnout, public disaffection, party polarization, and the failure of elections to ensure legitimate outcomes. Electoral malpractices continue to undermine contests around the world, from overt cases of violence and intimidation to subtler disinformation campaigns, barriers to fair party competition, and the under-representation of women and minority candidates. Most election results are not rejected outright or overturned but they are commonly flawed.
The 2019 General Elections: How Technology Can Help! is a panel session which will shed light on electoral corruption involving malpractices such as kick-back schemes for supporters, vote-buying, or the bribery of electoral officials. We will create a dialogue to empower citizens on unmasking corruption and improving electoral integrity in the electoral process using technological tools. We will explore challenges, mitigation strategies and share stories of how credible corruption reports will improve the upcoming elections.
‘Yemi Adamolekun
Executive Director, EIE‘Yemi currently serves as the Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE), a coalition of individuals and organizations committed to building a culture of good governance & public accountability in Nigeria through active citizenship. She is also the Secretary to EiE’s Board.
EiE has led various advocacy campaigns including its flagship #RSVP: Register |Select |Vote |Protect Campaign promoting voter education and participation. It is also involved in the #OpenNASS campaign calling for accountability and transparency in the National Assembly. EiE continues to be actively involved in the #BringBackOurGirls campaign calling for the government to find and rescue the Chibok girls and by extension protect Nigerian citizens and account for those missing and displaced. To mark its 5th anniversary, it started the ‘Office of the Citizen’ Campaign, which is focused on teaching citizens that they occupy the highest office in the land.
‘Yemi has a 17-year diverse career spanning the public and private sectors in the US and Nigeria. She started her career as a management consultant in Navigant Consulting, one of the top consulting firms in the US where she worked on intellectual property claims, forensic accounting and bankruptcy cases. She did a four-year stint at RCCG Jesus House, DC as Operations Coordinator before moving back to Nigeria. In Nigeria, she worked at Alder Consulting, an ideas, strategy and brand consulting firm where she helped formulate brand strategy, develop copy and media strategy for government, corporate and non-profit bodies. After 4 months, was asked to lead its new start-up – a figment of imagination – a physical product development firm. She left ‘a figment of imagination’ for business school and on her return, providence saw her as one of the founding Board Members of EiE.
She volunteers for the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) which is dedicated to the advancement of women and Kaleyewa House, an NGO founded by her late mother focused on the elderly. She’s also the Vice Chairman of the Board for Dawn in the Creeks Ltd, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting non-violent alternatives to conflicts in the Niger Delta.
‘Yemi was raised on the campus of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) but started her university education at the University of Lagos. She has a first degree in Mathematics & Economics from the University of Virginia; an MSc in Development Studies from The London School of Economics (LSE) and an MBA from Oxford University’s Said Business School.
‘Yemi cares deeply about educating and empowering Nigerians to know their rights and responsibilities as she believes that until we consistently hold our elected officials accountable, Nigeria will continue to be underdeveloped and unjust. This is summarised in one of her favourite quotes:
“Of all the institutions of a democratic society, there’s none as formidable as an awakened and conscious citizenry.” ? Shehu Sani
Yvonne William
Prosecutor
A prosecutor with The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).My hobbies are singing, cooking, working out, speaking and motivating others ,my mother and bosses have been my mentors , like u know I am part of the team that is working with students and pupils and educating them on corruption, seeing people I have motivated and spoken to improve on themselves / and make a positive impact in the society makes me motivated to do more.
I want to see a better Nigeria, a Nigeria we can boast of anywhere a Nigeria free of all forms of corruption.
Seray Jah
Senior Elections Expert, IFESA happy governance & electoral democracy expert with a passion in training and human development. An avid learner and a lover of nature.
Buba Luka
Principal Admin Officer, INECBuba Luka is a Principal Admin Officer and Desk Officer Civil Society Organizations (INEC), Lagos State
Udy Okon
Executive Director, Youth Alive FoundationYouth Alive Foundation (YAF) is a non-profit Civil Society Organization registered in Nigeria as a non-governmental organization. YAF was founded in 1999 and officially registered in 2002.
