Digital Technology and Democratic Sustainability in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic
The application of digital technology across democracies has been seen as solution to the backlash of electoral process and democratic deficit. The objective was to ascertain whether digital tools like electoral technology, biometric algorithms, electronic transmission and smart card readers have a powerful effect on democratic processes, promoting credible elections, accountability, and citizen engagement which are vital components of democratic sustainability. The primary research design adopted for this study was descriptive survey. The research instrument used for data collection was structured questionnaires under the prism of quantitative method employed for the study. Using Taro Yamani sample determination technique, a total number of 100 samples were selected and administered. The regression analysis found that there was no statistically significant association between digital technology and democratic sustainability (p = 0.963), which is contrary to the perspectives held by some studies. The results indicated that though digital tools are commonly in use, they have fewer democratizing effects due largely to infrastructural obstacles, institutional inefficiencies, and digital exclusion. The government and electoral authorities were advised to invest in accessible and fair digital services, promote openness in the implementation of election technologies, and raise the digital literacy level. In the absence of such interventions, digital technology could be incapacitated in achieving its potential of promoting democratic resilience in Nigeria. The research investigates relationship between digital technology and democratic sustainability in Nigeria. It discovered that there was no statistically significant relationship between digital technology and democratic sustainability.
