Forensic Computer Examination in Electoral Fraud Investigations in Imo State

The digitisation of electoral processes has introduced new vectors for fraud, demanding forensic computing expertise capable of extracting and authenticating digital evidence from electoral management systems. This study investigates the application of forensic computer examination in electoral fraud investigations conducted in Imo State following the 2019 and 2023 general elections. A descriptive qualitative design was used, incorporating in-depth interviews with eight digital forensic investigators engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the EFCC, as well as review of seven forensic examination reports submitted to election petition tribunals. The study assesses the methodologies employed in examining server logs, result collation devices, and voter registration databases, and evaluates the reception of digital forensic evidence in tribunal proceedings. Findings reveal that forensic examination requests were frequently received too late to allow full evidence preservation due to the volatility of digital data. Tribunal reception of digital forensic evidence was mixed, with admissibility challenged in four of seven cases on procedural grounds. The study also identifies a critical shortage of court-accepted digital forensic examiners in South East Nigeria. Recommendations include the pre-positioning of certified digital forensic examiners within INEC state offices and the development of judicial guidelines for the admissibility of electoral digital evidence. Keywords: computer forensics, electoral fraud, INEC, Imo State, digital evidence.