The Obidient Movement has expressed concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission's planned use of Artificial Intelligence in verifying election results ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a statement signed by Onyeka Dike, the movement stated that Nigerians should not be subjected to an untested electoral experiment. The movement emphasized that INEC should not introduce AI into the electoral process while its governance framework for the technology is still being finalised.
According to the Obidient Movement, the proposed AI system raises concerns about transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process. The movement demands that INEC abandon the proposed AI deployment until Nigerians are provided with a clear and transparent framework showing how the technology will be used. They also call for independent verification of any AI-assisted process, ensuring that the technology does not determine election outcomes without clear human accountability.
The Obidient Movement further demands full traceability of election results from the polling unit to the final collation stage. They call for the publication of Forms EC8A to EC8E on the INEC Result Viewing portal, IReV, to enable Nigerians to independently verify results from polling units through the various collation levels. This demand is particularly important given concerns surrounding the 2023 general elections, including disputes over result transmission and the credibility of some results.
The movement also criticizes INEC's warning against the announcement of election results from privately collated figures. They argue that the commission must provide timely and verifiable official results to prevent uncertainty and misinformation. The Obidient Movement raises allegations concerning possible relationships between electoral officials and political actors but provides no evidence to substantiate the claims.
The Obidient Movement urges INEC to prioritize transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process. They emphasize that every vote must count and every declared result must be open to verification. The movement's statement highlights the need for INEC to ensure that the electoral process is transparent and accountable to maintain public trust.
The use of AI in the electoral process has sparked debate among stakeholders, with some arguing that it could enhance the efficiency and accuracy of result verification. However, others have expressed concerns about the potential risks and challenges associated with the use of AI in elections. INEC has yet to respond to the Obidient Movement's demands.
The controversy surrounding INEC's plan to use AI in verifying election results highlights the challenges facing the electoral commission in its efforts to improve the electoral process. The commission must balance the need for efficiency and accuracy with the need for transparency and accountability to maintain public trust in the electoral process.
Key points
- The Obidient Movement rejects INEC's plan to use AI in verifying 2027 election results.
- The movement cites concerns over transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process.
- The movement demands that INEC abandon the proposed AI deployment until a clear and transparent framework is provided.
