The Obidient Movement has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) artificial intelligence (AI) initiative for the 2027 general elections. In a statement, the movement's Media and Communications Directorate described INEC's proposed deployment as "reckless and unacceptable". The movement demands verifiable results and publication of collation forms, citing the commission's disclosure that its AI governance policy is still being finalised.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, had announced the establishment of an AI division within its Information and Communications Technology Department. The division will integrate automated auditing tools into results verification, operating under a five-pillar governance framework with mandatory human oversight. Amupitan stated that an AI governance framework policy is being finalised by the commission.
The Obidient Movement argued that INEC should prioritise restoring public confidence following the credibility crisis surrounding the 2023 elections. The movement cited alleged alterations and defacing of result sheets, maintaining that the problems witnessed in 2023 were not caused by a lack of technology. Instead, they called for stronger transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The movement demands a system in which results can be traced from polling units through every stage of collation to the final declaration and independently checked by political parties, observers, journalists, and citizens. They also questioned Amupitan's warning against announcing or declaring results not released by INEC, raising concerns about what the commission is trying to control.
In a separate statement, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, warned against rigging in the 2027 elections. Mark stated that the party would comply with electoral rules but would not accept rigging or allow itself to be rigged out. He emphasised the party's commitment to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy.
The ADC's warning was made during a courtesy visit by the Governing Council of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy, and Development to the party's headquarters in Abuja. The council, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, reaffirmed its commitment to free, fair, and credible elections. Ariwoola urged the ADC leadership to encourage its candidates and members to comply with INEC's rules and eschew political violence.
The Obidient Movement called for a clear, transparent, and independently auditable framework for every technology deployed in the elections. They also demanded the publication of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, and EC8E on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. The movement emphasised that the votes of Nigerians belong to Nigerians and that no algorithm, server, software, official, or political party has the right to alter the wishes of the people.
Key points
- The Obidient Movement rejects INEC's AI plan for the 2027 elections, citing concerns over credibility and transparency.
- The African Democratic Congress warns against rigging in the 2027 elections, emphasising its commitment to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy.
- INEC's AI governance framework policy is still being finalised, raising concerns about the deployment of AI in the electoral process.
