Assessment of Voters' Attitudes in the Aftermath of the 2023 General Election in Anambra State

Abstract

The 2023 general elections in Nigeria, encompassing the presidential, National Assembly, and, at the state level in Anambra, gubernatorial by-election contexts, were conducted under a reformed electoral framework anchored in the Electoral Act 2022, which introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and mandated electronic transmission of results. This paper assesses voters' attitudes in Anambra State in the aftermath of the 2023 general election, examining how the conduct, technology, and outcomes of the election shaped citizens' perceptions of electoral credibility, trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and broader political efficacy. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of political efficacy theory and expectancy-disconfirmation theory, and a qualitative synthesis of election observation reports, survey-based political attitude studies, and documented post-election commentary, the paper examines voter attitudes across four dimensions: perceptions of technological reliability, particularly regarding BVAS and result transmission; trust in electoral administration; satisfaction with electoral outcomes; and subsequent political engagement disposition. The paper finds that while the introduction of BVAS technology initially raised voter expectations regarding electoral transparency, documented technical difficulties and delays in results transmission on election day contributed to a disconfirmation effect that measurably dampened post-election trust in electoral administration among segments of the Anambra electorate, notwithstanding variation in attitudes linked to individual voters' preferred candidates' outcomes. The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening technological reliability, transparency in electoral communication, and civic engagement mechanisms to rebuild and sustain voter trust ahead of subsequent electoral cycles.