Obidient Movement Opposes INEC's AI Use for Elections

The Obidient Movement has publicly rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) plan to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managing and collating results for the upcoming 2027 elections. In a statement signed by Onyeka Dike from the Media and Communications Directorate, the movement described the proposed use of AI as “reckless and unacceptable,” arguing that it could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The group emphasized that INEC should resolve outstanding issues from the 2023 general elections before introducing new technology. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, had previously stated that AI tools would assist in identifying discrepancies and administrative errors in election results.

However, the Obidient Movement insisted on a transparent and auditable electoral process that allows independent verification of results. They also raised concerns regarding INEC's warning against the publication of unofficial election results by media organizations, asserting that trust cannot be established without sufficient verification opportunities.