Welcome back to our weekly Civic Tech Advocacy series in partnership with Ibadan Tech Expo. Today we touch on a part of elections that are often overlooked, because most people don’t think it is a big deal. The House of Assembly
Your vote is your voice. Make sure your State House of Assembly candidate has actually thought about the digital economy before they earn it.
State House of Assembly elections are often the most overlooked contests in any general election cycle. Voter attention tends to gravitate toward the Presidency, the Governorship, and the Senate, leaving House of Assembly candidates largely unscrutinised. This is a mistake, especially for those of us who work in or care about technology and the digital economy.
The Oyo State House of Assembly has 32 members, each representing a constituency. These legislators have the power to initiate, review, and pass laws that directly affect how business is done at the state level, how public funds are allocated, and how the state government interacts with the private sector. For the tech ecosystem, this matters enormously.
Here are ten questions every tech-minded voter in Oyo State should be asking their House of Assembly aspirant before 2027.
One: Do you know what the Nigeria Startup Act say, and what Oyo State needs to do to domesticate its provisions? The Nigeria Startup Act of 2022 was a landmark piece of legislation. But its benefits depend heavily on state-level action. Your candidate should know this.
Two: What is your position on the Oyo State e-Government policy? Many state government services remain offline or poorly digitised. A legislator who has not thought about this cannot champion it.
Three: Will you support a dedicated budget line for digital skills training in your constituency’s secondary schools? Coding and digital literacy should begin well before university. This is a constituency-level intervention that Assembly members can push for.
Four: How do you plan to support the development of tech hubs or co-working spaces in your constituency? Many constituencies outside Ibadan have no structured space for young tech professionals to work and collaborate.
Five: What is your understanding of how broadband infrastructure is currently distributed across your constituency? Legislators who cannot answer this question will not be able to advocate effectively for connectivity investment in their communities.
Six: Have you engaged with any technology-focused civil society organisations or startup communities in Oyo State? This tells you whether the candidate has done any listening before seeking your vote.
Seven: Would you support legislation that mandates a minimum percentage of state government technology contracts to go to Oyo State-based businesses? Local procurement policy is one of the most direct ways to grow a state-level ecosystem.
Eight: What is your view on the regulation of fintech and digital lending in Oyo State, given the harm that predatory lending apps have caused to residents? This shows whether your candidate thinks about digital consumer protection.
Nine: Will you commit to holding at least one public hearing on digital economy issues in your constituency per legislative term? Engagement matters. A legislator who never consults the tech community cannot represent it.
Ten: What is your personal relationship with technology? Do you use digital tools in your daily life and campaign? Candidates who cannot operate basic digital tools are unlikely to prioritise digital infrastructure for others.
These questions are not designed to trap or embarrass any candidate. They are designed to surface whether the person seeking to represent you has genuinely thought about the digital future of your community. The answers, or the absence of answers will tell you a great deal.
Share this list. Take it to town halls. Post it on WhatsApp groups. The 2027 elections are not just about who wins. They are about what kind of representation Oyo State’s technology community finally demands for itself.
