The Obidient Movement has raised concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) plan to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National Coordinator of the movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the commission should first address concerns surrounding electoral transparency, result transmission and the safeguards governing its existing technology before expanding the use of AI.
Tanko made the position known in Abuja following INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan’s disclosure that the commission had commenced deploying AI tools to identify discrepancies and administrative errors in election results.
Movement demands explanation on AI deployment
The Obidient Movement said INEC should provide Nigerians with details of how the proposed technology would operate, the specific electoral challenges it is intended to address and the safeguards that would prevent misuse.
Tanko also called for the publication of INEC’s comprehensive 2027 election plan, including details of the technologies, procedures and safeguards to be deployed during the elections.
He further demanded an independent audit of the commission’s electoral technology systems, with the findings and any corrective measures made available to the public.
Concerns over result transmission
Tanko linked the movement’s concerns to broader questions about the management of electoral technology and the transmission of results.
He called for a transparent and verifiable process through which results recorded at polling units can be traced to the final figures declared by INEC.
The group also wants any proposed AI system to undergo independent testing and public scrutiny before being deployed during the elections.
Tanko argued that the introduction of new technology should be accompanied by stronger institutional accountability and transparency.
What INEC says about AI
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan has said the commission is already deploying AI tools to detect discrepancies and administrative errors in election results.
The commission has also established an Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and developed an AI Roadmap and Governance Framework.
According to Amupitan, the framework is built around human oversight, transparency, accountability, data protection, cybersecurity and public trust.
The INEC chairman has also warned about the growing use of AI to create fake election materials, including fabricated result sheets, cloned voices, manipulated videos and forged official documents.
He said AI-generated disinformation could make it increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish genuine electoral information from fabricated content.
AI to complement human verification
INEC has indicated that its use of AI will not eliminate human oversight.
The commission says automated checks are intended to assist the election management process, while results and other electoral processes will remain subject to human auditing and legal verification.
The development comes as INEC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections and considers ways of using emerging technologies while addressing the risks associated with AI-generated misinformation.
For the Obidient Movement, however, the immediate priority is greater transparency around INEC’s systems and the publication of clear safeguards before the technology is deployed more extensively.
