The Obidient Movement has kicked against plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the management and verification of election results during the 2027 general elections.
The group described the proposed use of AI at a crucial stage of the electoral process as unacceptable, arguing that INEC should not introduce such technology while the regulatory framework guiding its deployment is still being developed.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Media and Communications Director, Onyeka Dike, the movement said the commission must first establish clear and independently verifiable rules before introducing new technology into the electoral process.
“INEC cannot tell Nigerians that it intends to introduce AI into one of the most sensitive stages of the electoral process while simultaneously admitting that the rules governing its use are still being developed,” the statement said.
The group urged INEC to prioritise rebuilding public confidence in the electoral system, particularly in view of controversies that surrounded the 2023 general elections.
It called for a results-management process that would allow every election result to be traced from the individual polling unit through the various collation stages to the final declaration.
The movement also expressed concern over a recent warning by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, against individuals or groups announcing election results that had not been officially released by the commission.
While acknowledging INEC’s legal authority to declare election results, the group said the warning, when considered alongside the proposed AI deployment and what it described as an incomplete regulatory framework, had raised concerns about the commission’s preparations for 2027.
The Obidient Movement also alleged that there were reports suggesting that Amupitan had travelled to France with President Bola Tinubu, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other political figures to discuss strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the group did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.
It further criticised INEC over unresolved concerns from the 2023 elections, particularly issues surrounding the electronic transmission and publication of results through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to the movement, the problems experienced during the last general elections were not mainly caused by inadequate technology but by weaknesses in the implementation of the electoral process.
It therefore demanded that INEC immediately halt plans to deploy AI for the collation and management of election results.
The group also called on the electoral commission to publish a comprehensive framework for all technologies it intends to use in the 2027 elections and subject the framework to independent scrutiny and audit.
It insisted that election results must remain traceable to individual polling units and independently verifiable by political parties, election observers, journalists and members of the public.
The movement further urged INEC to implement five commitments attributed to Mundus Analytics, including the publication of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and EC8E on the IReV portal.
It also called on the INEC chairman to “retrace his steps” and ensure that electoral outcomes reflect the will of voters rather than the interests of political actors or election officials.
“In 2027, Nigerians will not surrender their votes to technology, bureaucracy or manipulation. Every vote must count, every result must be verifiable, and the true choice of the Nigerian people must prevail,” the statement added.
