In Nigerian elections, casting a ballot is only the beginning. What happens next often decides whether that vote survives or disappears.

A widely shared video outlining the “Kwankwasiyya model” offers a practical, field-tested approach rooted in disciplined grassroots organisation. It rejects blind trust in the system and instead builds citizen vigilance at every stage — from the polling unit to the collation centre.

Here are the five essential steps, clearly defined:

– Step 1: Vote

Show up early with your Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). Join the queue, confirm your details, and cast your ballot. Voting is the foundation — without it, nothing else matters.

– Step 2: Ensure Your Vote Is Counted

Remain at the polling unit after voting. Watch the sorting and counting process closely. Confirm that every ballot, including yours, is properly sorted, tallied, and recorded on the result sheet (Form EC8A). Do not leave until the official count is completed and announced.

– Step 3: Ensure the Unit Result Is Uploaded to IREV

Insist that the polling unit result is scanned and uploaded immediately to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV). Take a clear photograph or screenshot of the result sheet and the successful upload confirmation. If upload fails, demand a written reason and keep independent records.

– Step 4: Mobilise and Escort the Results to the Collation Centre

Organise yourselves as a group. Accompany the polling officials and the physical result sheets as they move from the polling unit to the ward or local government collation centre. Numbers provide protection and reduce the risk of tampering or substitution in transit.

– Step 5: Refuse Intimidation or Threats Under Any Circumstance

Stand firm against pressure, thugs, or attempts to force voters or agents to abandon the process. Stay together, document every incident, and report threats immediately to security agents and party officials while remaining present.

The strength of the Kwankwasiyya model lies in its structure. It does not rely on hope or last-minute complaints. It builds organisation ward by ward and polling unit by polling unit in advance — with trained agents, clear roles, and a collective resolve to stay until the final result is secured.

This approach is lawful, disciplined, and effective. It turns individual voters into active defenders of the democratic process. In a system where every stage after the ballot box remains vulnerable, these five steps transform passive participation into real protection of the people’s will.

Pamela O.
Political Analyst and Columnist