The Obidient Movement has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposed deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 2027 general elections, alleging that the electoral body has failed to address fundamental concerns surrounding transparency and result transmission.
In a statement signed by its Media and Communications Directorate, the group expressed concern over what it described as institutional conspiracy, disturbing secrecy and apparent collusion between INEC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The movement argued that technology was not the fundamental problem with Nigeria’s elections, but rather the credibility, independence and accountability of institutions responsible for conducting them.
According to the group, INEC should first account for existing shortcomings in the electoral process before introducing new technologies.
“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 (AI) in the 2027 elections,” the statement said.
The Obidient Movement questioned how the proposed AI system would operate, the problems it was intended to address and the safeguards that would be put in place to prevent abuse.
It also cited a recent investigation by Mundx Analytics, claiming that presidential results from more than 50,000 polling units in the 2023 election were uploaded from mobile phones.
The movement alleged that individuals working with INEC were involved in manipulating the electoral process, but did not provide independent evidence in the statement to substantiate the allegation.
The group further raised concerns about INEC’s ICT leadership ahead of the 2027 elections, specifically mentioning Lawrence Bayode, whom it identified as the Commission’s ICT Director.
It alleged that Bayode and other officials were involved in the alleged manipulation of the 2023 election and questioned why the same officials remained responsible for critical electoral systems ahead of the next general elections.
“The issue in 2023 was not a failure of technology, but the evil collusion of Mr. Bayode, the then INEC Chairman, Mr. Mahmood Yakubu, and the APC,” the group alleged.
The Obidient Movement also accused the electoral body of attempting to shift attention from unresolved concerns about the 2023 elections by introducing AI into the electoral process.
It subsequently issued a series of demands to INEC, including the publication of a comprehensive 2027 election plan detailing the technologies, procedures and safeguards to be deployed.
The group also called for an independent audit of INEC’s electoral technology, with the findings and corrective measures made public.
It demanded transparent and verifiable transmission of election results, saying every vote recorded at polling units should be accurately reflected in the final results.
The movement further asked INEC to provide detailed explanations of its proposed use of AI and subject the technology to independent testing and public scrutiny.
It also called for measures to guarantee the independence of the Commission’s ICT leadership, including the removal of officials whose alleged partisan activities could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The group warned that any attempt to manipulate the 2027 elections could trigger widespread public outrage and an electoral crisis.
It urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to review the Commission’s approach and take steps to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process before the 2027 elections.
“The responsibility for preventing an electoral crisis rests squarely on INEC. “The Commission must act now, before its continued secrecy and failures push the country towards a crisis that could have been avoided”, the statement said.