INEC must explain what problems this technology is meant to solve and what safeguards are in place to prevent its abuse.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – Obidient Movement has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to explain how its proposed deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the 2027 general elections will work, raising concerns over transparency, accountability and safeguards against possible abuse of the technology.
The movement said Nigerians deserved to know the specific electoral challenges the proposed AI system was designed to address, as well as the measures INEC would put in place to ensure that the technology did not undermine confidence in the electoral process.
In a statement by its Worldwide Coordinator, Dr Yunusa Tanko, yesterday, the movement said technology was not the fundamental challenge confronting Nigeria’s elections, arguing that greater attention should be paid to transparency, institutional independence and accountability.
Tanko said, “INEC must explain what problems this technology is meant to solve and what safeguards are in place to prevent its abuse.
“Technology is not the fundamental challenge confronting our electoral system. The real issues are transparency, institutional independence and accountability.”
The movement also questioned the credibility and transparency of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly the continued involvement of the commission’s ICT leadership in the electoral process.
Tanko alleged that some officials who were involved in the management of INEC’s ICT systems during the 2023 elections remained in critical positions ahead of the 2027 polls.
He said INEC should provide Nigerians with a comprehensive plan for the 2027 elections, covering the technologies, procedures and safeguards to be deployed.
This is just as the movement called for a transparent and verifiable system of results transmission to ensure that votes recorded at polling units were accurately reflected in the final results.
Tanko also urged the commission to subject any proposed AI system to independent testing and public scrutiny before its deployment.
Furthermore, he called for measures to guarantee the independence of INEC’s ICT leadership and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to ensure that the commission’s preparations and electoral processes remained transparent, verifiable and credible.