CODE launches ‘Uzabe’ monitor for presidential, governorship polls

The Connected Development (CODE) has launched a real time, web-based map situation technology, named ‘Uzabe’ to monitor the forthcoming presidential and governorship elections across the country.

The Chief Executive of CODE, Hamzat Lawal, told newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja that the organisation will also deploy over 5,000 observers nationwide to ensure that the February 16 and March 2 elections are free, fair and credible.

According to him, ‘Uzabe’ is a Real-Time Technology for Intelligence Gathering and Election Monitoring.

Lawal said that Uzabe was a mapping tool that would enable observers establish early warning systems for communities and voters and strengthen mitigation and emergency response during elections.

“We are launching Uzabe in partnership with Ushahidi, a technology giant based in Nairobi, to ensure that we are able to document situations real-time as they happen during the general elections.

“What we have done is to populate everywhere in Nigeria on that map; all the data we got from INEC of 120,000 polling units we put on the map.

“Connected Development has mobilized more than 5,000 young people to observe the entire process across the country. We have a team that will first verify and authenticate the reports that come in; as much as we are passionate about informing people we do not want to misinform people.

“Our platform is integrated by WhatsApp and SMS to a dedicated number so communities where there is no internet access our observers can send messages,” Lawal said.

He added that the platform allowed for eyewitness reports which would go through a verification process before being published.

He said the technology platform helps Nigerians to give situation and eyewitness report from all polling units across the 36 states in real time.

He said, “Using Uzabe technology tool to observe election and report intelligence is a way of protecting our democracy.

“Our intention is to provide real-time reports on security intelligence that would strengthen fair electoral processes, mitigation and emergency response during violence and establish early warning system for vulnerable communities.”