Obidients oppose INEC's AI plans for 2027 elections

The Obidient Movement has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission not to use Artificial Intelligence in the 2027 general elections. They say this should happen only after fixing issues about electoral transparency, result transmission, and the credibility of the commission's processes.

Yunusa Tanko, the National Coordinator of the movement, gave this warning in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday. He spoke after INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, said the commission had started using AI tools to prepare for the elections.

Amupitan had announced four days earlier that INEC was using AI to find mistakes and errors in election results. He also mentioned that the commission was working to protect itself from AI-generated disinformation, which could create fake result sheets, fake voices of electoral officials, fake videos, and forged documents.

But Tanko said the movement does not agree with INEC's plan to use AI. He argued that the commission has not properly explained how this technology will work, the problems it aims to solve, and the protections against its misuse.

He stated, “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.

“We reject this proposal in its entirety, particularly as the Commission has failed to explain how this technology will work, what problems it is intended to solve and what safeguards will prevent its abuse.”

Tanko also mentioned a recent investigation by Mundx Analytics. He said it found that presidential results from over 50,000 polling units were uploaded from people's phones. He argued that technology alone cannot guarantee fair elections without proper accountability.

“Introducing AI into a system that has yet to account for its existing failures is not electoral reform. It is an attempt to distract Nigerians from the fundamental questions of institutional independence, transparency and accountability,” he said.

The Obidient Movement is demanding that INEC publish its full 2027 election plan. This includes details about the technologies, procedures, and protections it plans to use.

They also want an independent audit of the commission's electoral technology and for the findings and corrective actions to be made public.

Tanko is calling for clear and verifiable result transmission. He stated that every vote cast at the polling unit must be accurately shown in the final result.

He urged INEC to explain how it will use AI and to allow independent testing and public review of the technology.

The Obidients coordinator said Amupitan still has time to rethink the commission's approach before the 2027 elections.

“The INEC Chairman, Mr Josh Amupitan, still has enough time to retrace his steps before it is too late. The people’s mandate is not negotiable,” Tanko added.