The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has questioned the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) planned use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the 2027 general elections, alleging that the technology could be exploited to manipulate the polls in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The opposition party has called for greater transparency and independent testing of the proposed AI tools before their nationwide deployment, although it has not provided evidence to substantiate its allegation that INEC intends to rig the elections.
Key Highlights
- The NDC has raised concerns over INEC’s planned deployment of AI in the 2027 general elections.
- The opposition party alleges that the technology could be used to favour the APC but has not provided evidence supporting the claim.
- NDC National Publicity Secretary Osa Director called for transparency and testing before nationwide deployment.
- The party questioned why INEC did not test the technology during an off-cycle election.
- INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan says the commission has established a dedicated AI division within its ICT department.
- INEC says AI-powered auditing and anomaly-detection tools will operate under mandatory human oversight.
- Nigerians have raised questions about cybersecurity, data integrity, independent audits and the relationship between AI, BVAS and result collation.
NDC Raises Concerns Over INEC’s AI Plans
In a statement titled “INEC’s Plan To Rig The 2027 General Elections With AI,” the NDC questioned the timing, transparency and preparedness of the electoral commission to introduce AI into Nigeria’s electoral process.
The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq., alleged that the proposed deployment raised concerns about the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
“INEC is plotting to rig the 2027 general elections in favour of the ruinous APC by deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI),” the party alleged.
The NDC also questioned whether AI was an appropriate priority for the commission while Nigeria continued to face persistent security challenges.
“For a nation that has not been able to use AI to solve its intractable security challenges, is it the problem of electing public officers that it can now resolve with AI?” the party asked.
However, the statement did not present evidence that INEC intended to manipulate election results or deploy the technology to benefit any political party.
NDC Demands AI Testing Before 2027 Elections
A major concern raised by the opposition party is the absence of a publicly demonstrated test of the proposed technology during an off-cycle election before its planned use in the nationwide polls.
The NDC specifically questioned why INEC had not tested the AI tools during the Osun State governorship election, arguing that the commission should demonstrate their effectiveness before relying on them in a general election.
“Not even a test run of the efficiency, or otherwise, of AI tools in off-cycle elections? Why did INEC not test-run AI in the Osun polls?” the statement asked.
The party also questioned the timing of the proposed deployment, arguing that introducing a new technology close to an election could raise concerns about preparedness and public confidence.
“Why the hurry to use AI in the forthcoming general elections, just less than 100 days away? Something is amiss,” the NDC said.
The party called on Nigerians and the international community to scrutinise the commission’s plans and demand safeguards against possible electoral manipulation.
What INEC Says About AI in the 2027 Elections
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has said the commission is developing AI-powered tools to strengthen election result verification, identify unusual database activity and improve cybersecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a report by SaharaReporters published on October 6, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established a dedicated AI division within its Information and Communications Technology department. He made the disclosure at a press conference in Abuja.
He also said automated AI auditing tools had been integrated into the commission’s result-verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework requiring human oversight.
“Automated AI auditing tools have been integrated into our result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework operating under mandatory human oversight,” Amupitan said.
The chairman further disclosed that the commission was finalising an AI governance policy and working with international technology companies and other partners to develop tools for detecting unusual activity within its databases.
He said the tools would help monitor database traffic and protect INEC’s systems against cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.
The stated objectives of the proposed technology are therefore focused on auditing, anomaly detection and cybersecurity. INEC’s announcement, as reported, does not establish that AI will independently determine election winners or replace the commission’s existing result-management procedures.
Nigerians Question AI Security and Electoral Transparency
INEC’s announcement has generated questions about how the technology will work, what data it will access and how its performance will be independently assessed.
Some Nigerians have also questioned whether AI would address longstanding concerns involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic transmission of results and manual collation, particularly in areas with poor network connectivity.
An X user, @EyedBluntTruth, questioned the specific role AI would play in the electoral process.
“AI for what exactly? We listen to these things and just move on. Can he tell us what and in which aspect will this be used?” the user wrote.
Another user, @Samaila222222, welcomed the proposal but sought assurances about cybersecurity.
“This is a very good idea, but how can you assure us with the security for the system? We need to know,” the user said.
Other users focused on questions about who would control the technology, the information it would access and whether independent observers would be permitted to examine its operations.
An X user identified as @blackbinbaz also questioned the reliability of the system, warning that the quality of the information used by AI would influence its outputs.
“AI is only as reliable as the data fed into it,” the user wrote.
These reactions reflect public concerns about transparency and safeguards, but they do not independently establish that INEC’s planned system is vulnerable to manipulation.
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How Could AI Affect Election Result Verification?
AI tools can be designed to flag unusual patterns in databases, identify inconsistencies and assist auditors in reviewing large volumes of information. In an electoral context, such tools could support the detection of suspicious system activity or discrepancies requiring further investigation.
However, their effectiveness depends on factors such as data quality, system design, cybersecurity controls, auditability and the procedures used to investigate flagged anomalies.
AI-generated alerts would also require careful interpretation. An unusual pattern does not automatically establish fraud, just as the absence of an alert does not guarantee that a system is free from manipulation.
For INEC’s proposed deployment to command public confidence, the commission would need to explain the technology’s precise functions, the safeguards governing access to electoral data, the role of human decision-makers and the procedures for independently auditing its performance.
Clear communication would also help distinguish the proposed AI tools from other parts of the electoral process, including voter accreditation, result transmission and collation.
INEC Faces Calls for Greater Transparency Ahead of 2027
INEC has maintained that its proposed AI tools will operate under mandatory human oversight. However, questions remain about the practical scope of the technology, the security measures protecting it and the extent to which its operations will be open to independent scrutiny.
The NDC’s intervention has added to the debate over the commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections, with the party demanding testing and greater transparency before nationwide deployment.
The central issue is whether INEC can clearly demonstrate how the technology will improve election administration while ensuring that electoral data remains secure and that established procedures for verifying and announcing results remain transparent.
As preparations continue, public explanations, independent technical scrutiny and clearly defined accountability measures could help address concerns surrounding the planned use of AI in Nigeria’s electoral process.
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