INEC Faces Scrutiny Ahead of 2027 Elections in Nigeria

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, the responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure electoral integrity is emphasized. Voters should not have to understand complex technology to trust that their ballots will be counted.

The 2023 elections highlighted the fragility of the relationship between technological capability and public confidence, particularly with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). While these systems aimed to enhance transparency, delays in uploading presidential results undermined their effectiveness.

Citizens deserve clarity on what went wrong and how to verify records. The article stresses that confidence in electoral institutions cannot be restored by discouraging questions but rather through transparent communication and accountability.

Before implementing artificial intelligence, INEC must clarify its intended use and ensure public scrutiny of its processes. The democratic cost of failing to build public trust is significant, as it could deter future participation in elections.