Obidients kick INEC’s proposed deployment of AI for 2027 elections
by Adenle Ahmed Abiola · The Eagle OnlineThe Obidient Movement has rejected and questioned the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposed deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the Worldwide Coordinator of the movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, warned INEC against implementing the advanced technology without first fixing the fundamental crises of institutional trust and transparency.
Tanko gave the warning following INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan’s disclosure that the commission had begun deploying AI tools ahead of the elections.
Amupitan had, four days earlier, disclosed that INEC was using AI tools to detect discrepancies and administrative errors in election results.
He also said the commission was strengthening its defences against AI-generated disinformation capable of producing fake result sheets, cloned voices of electoral officials, fabricated videos and forged official documents.
But Tanko said the movement rejected INEC’s proposed deployment of AI, arguing that the commission had yet to adequately explain how the technology would work, the problems it was intended to address and the safeguards against its abuse.
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He said, “The same INEC that has failed to address the most basic issues surrounding electoral transparency, result transmission and the credibility of its processes is now announcing plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence in the 2027 elections.”
He called on INEC to explain the problems the proposed technology was intended to address and the safeguards to prevent its abuse.
According to him, technology is not the fundamental challenge confronting Nigeria’s electoral system, but issues of transparency, institutional independence and accountability.
The coordinator expressed concern over the continued involvement of the commission’s ICT leadership in preparations for the 2027 elections.
He alleged that officials involved in the management of the commission’s ICT systems during the 2023 elections still remained in critical positions ahead of the 2027 polls.
Tanko said INEC should provide Nigerians with a comprehensive plan for the 2027 elections, including details of the technologies, procedures and safeguards to be deployed.
He also called for transparent and verifiable transmission of results to ensure that votes recorded at polling units were accurately reflected in the final results.
Tanko urged INEC to subject its proposed AI systems to independent testing and public scrutiny before deployment.
He further called for measures to guarantee the independence of the commission’s ICT leadership and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to ensure that the commission’s processes remained transparent and credible.
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