Tension Ahead Of 2027: Obidients Kick Against INEC’s Proposed AI Deployment

The Obidient Movement, led by its National Coordinator, Yunusa Tanko, has raised concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) planned use of Artificial Intelligence in the 2027 general elections.

Tanko urged the electoral commission to resolve what the movement considers outstanding issues surrounding electoral transparency, result transmission and public confidence in the electoral process before expanding the use of AI.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Tanko criticised INEC for not providing sufficient details on how the technology would be deployed, the specific challenges it is expected to address and the safeguards that would be put in place to prevent misuse.

His comments followed INEC’s announcement that it had begun deploying AI tools to help identify discrepancies and administrative errors in election result records ahead of the 2027 elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the technology would operate under human oversight and that the commission was also developing governance measures covering transparency, accountability, data protection and cybersecurity.

Tanko argued that introducing new technology would not by itself resolve existing concerns about the electoral process. He maintained that institutional accountability and transparency should remain central to preparations for the 2027 polls.

The Obidient Movement also cited findings it attributed to Mundx Analytics, claiming that presidential results from more than 50,000 polling units had been uploaded using individuals’ mobile phones. Tanko used the claim to argue that INEC should first account for unresolved issues surrounding existing electoral technologies and processes.

He said the movement was therefore calling on INEC to publish a comprehensive plan for the 2027 elections, including details of the technologies, procedures and safeguards it intends to use.

Tanko also urged the commission to subject its proposed AI systems to independent testing and public scrutiny before wider deployment, while calling on Amupitan to reconsider the approach if necessary.

INEC, meanwhile, has said its AI initiative is intended to support election officials rather than replace human decision-making. The commission has also warned that AI-generated disinformation, including fake result sheets, cloned voices, fabricated videos and forged documents, could pose a threat to public confidence in the 2027 elections.