Obidient Movement Sends Strong Warning To INEC Over People’s Mandate

The Obidient Movement has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the will of Nigerian voters is respected in the 2027 general election, warning that any failure to protect the electorate’s mandate could lead to what it described as avoidable chaos.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the group made the position known in a statement issued on Tuesday while reacting to INEC’s plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related technology ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement questioned the proposed use of AI, alleging that introducing the technology without adequate transparency, safeguards and accountability could create opportunities for electoral manipulation.

The group called on INEC to publish a comprehensive plan for the 2027 elections, including details of the technologies it intends to deploy, the procedures governing their use and the safeguards that would be put in place to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The Obidient Movement also urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to reconsider the commission’s approach and address concerns surrounding the proposed deployment of AI before the elections.

The group further alleged that Nigerians should not be forced to seek legal remedies after an election if the electoral process is conducted transparently and voters’ choices are properly protected.

The movement said the responsibility for ensuring that voters’ mandates are respected rests primarily with INEC and urged the commission to provide greater clarity on how emerging technologies would be used during the elections.

The group’s position comes as INEC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections and examines the role of emerging technologies in the electoral process. The commission has also warned that AI-generated disinformation, including fabricated videos, audio recordings and images, could pose a serious threat to the credibility of the polls.

INEC has said it is conducting an audit of its electoral technology systems and considering measures to strengthen the security and reliability of election technology ahead of the 2027 polls.

The Obidient Movement, however, maintained that any new technology introduced into the electoral process should be accompanied by clear procedures, independent scrutiny and safeguards that can be verified by stakeholders and the public.