The opposition party questions the timing, transparency and security of INEC’s planned AI deployment, while the electoral commission says the technology will operate under mandatory human oversight.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly plotting to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through the proposed deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The opposition party raised the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq., titled “INEC’s Plan To Rig The 2027 General Elections With AI.”

The party questioned the rationale behind introducing AI into Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that the commission had not sufficiently demonstrated how the technology would improve electoral credibility, transparency and public confidence.

According to the NDC, the planned deployment raises concerns about the possibility of manipulating electoral outcomes, particularly if the technology is introduced without adequate testing, independent monitoring and transparent safeguards.

“INEC is plotting to rig the 2027 general elections in favour of the ruinous APC by deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI). Suddenly, AI has become an attractive tool for the election management body,” the party stated.

The allegation, however, was not accompanied by publicly presented evidence in the statement establishing that INEC intends to manipulate the elections. The commission’s stated position is that its planned AI systems will support result verification, cybersecurity and the protection of electoral databases.

NDC Questions INEC's AI Strategy

The opposition party also challenged INEC to explain why it was considering AI-powered electoral technology when Nigeria continued to face serious 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 NDC asked.

The party further questioned why the commission had not conducted pilot tests during off-cycle elections before announcing plans to deploy the technology for the 2027 general elections.

It specifically asked why the proposed AI systems had not been tested during the Osun governorship election, arguing that a trial period could help identify weaknesses and establish whether the technology could be trusted in a nationwide electoral exercise.

The NDC also expressed concern about the timing of the proposed deployment, questioning the urgency of introducing the technology so close to the elections.

“Why the hurry to use AI in the forthcoming general elections, just less than 100 days away? Something is amiss,” the party stated.

The statement called on Nigerians and the international community to scrutinise INEC’s plans and demand greater transparency over the technology's intended functions and safeguards.

“All men and women of good conscience and the international community must rise to checkmate this diabolical plot by INEC,” the party added.

INEC Announces AI Deployment for 2027 Elections

The controversy followed INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan's announcement that the commission was preparing to deploy artificial intelligence tools to strengthen result verification and detect potential cyberattacks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the report published by SaharaReporters on October 6, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established a dedicated AI division within its Information and Communications Technology department.

He said the commission had also integrated automated AI auditing tools into its result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework designed to operate with mandatory human oversight.

“Artificial intelligence governance. The commission has established a dedicated artificial intelligence division within the ICT departments,” Amupitan said.

“Automated AI auditing tools have been integrated into our result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework operating under mandatory human oversight,” he added.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission was finalising an AI governance framework policy and working with international technology companies and other partners to introduce AI-powered anomaly detection systems.

According to him, the proposed tools would monitor database traffic and help protect INEC's systems against cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.

“In partnership with international technology leaders and partners, we're integrating our AI-driven anomaly detection tools to monitor database traffic and shield our public quarters against cyber intrusions or unauthorised alterations,” Amupitan stated.

INEC has presented the proposed technology as part of its efforts to improve the security and integrity of the electoral process. However, questions remain about the precise scope of its deployment and how its use will be independently verified.

Nigerians Raise Questions About Transparency and Security

The announcement has generated questions among Nigerians about the specific responsibilities AI would perform during the elections and whether the technology would affect existing electoral procedures.

Some of the concerns centre on the relationship between AI systems, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic transmission of results and manual collation, particularly in locations with poor network connectivity.

An X user identified as @EyedBluntTruth questioned the precise role the technology 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 questioned whether INEC could guarantee the security of the technology.

“This is a very good idea, but how can you assure us with the security for the system? We need to know,” the user stated.

For @BoluAyos, the central issue was not simply whether AI would be used, but who would control it, what information it would process and whether independent observers could examine its operations.

“I wouldn’t judge the system by AI being used. I’d judge it by who controls the AI, what data it sees, what happens when it flags an anomaly, and whether independent observers can audit the process,” the user wrote.

Another user, @blackbinbaz, warned against placing excessive confidence in AI, arguing that its reliability depends partly on the quality of the data it receives.

“AI is only as reliable as the data fed into it,” the user stated.

The reactions highlight broader concerns about transparency, accountability, cybersecurity and public trust as Nigeria prepares for another general election.

What INEC Must Clarify Before 2027

Although INEC has said its proposed AI systems will operate under mandatory human oversight, the concerns raised by the NDC and members of the public underscore the importance of providing detailed explanations about the technology.

Among the issues requiring clarification are whether AI will merely flag suspicious activities or directly influence the verification of election results; how its recommendations will be reviewed by human officials; and whether political parties, accredited observers and independent technical experts will have access to sufficient information to assess its reliability.

The commission also faces questions about how it intends to prevent unauthorised access, algorithmic errors, data manipulation and the misuse of AI-generated alerts during result verification.

Furthermore, publishing clear operational guidelines and establishing independent auditing mechanisms could help the commission demonstrate that the technology will support existing electoral safeguards rather than replace established legal procedures.

Any proposed use of AI must also be consistent with Nigeria's electoral laws and preserve the statutory responsibilities of election officials.

NDC's Allegations Remain Unsubstantiated

The NDC's accusation that INEC is plotting to rig the 2027 general elections for the APC remains an allegation that has not been substantiated by evidence presented in the party's statement.

INEC, meanwhile, has described its planned AI deployment as an effort to strengthen result verification and protect its systems against cyberattacks and unauthorised alterations.

The central issue is whether the commission can provide sufficient transparency and independently verifiable safeguards to convince Nigerians that the technology will be used strictly to protect electoral integrity.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, public scrutiny of INEC's plans is likely to intensify, particularly over how AI will interact with existing accreditation, result transmission and collation procedures.

Ultimately, the credibility of the electoral process will depend not simply on whether INEC adopts new technology, but on whether its deployment is transparent, secure, legally compliant and open to independent scrutiny.

HSN reports that the NDC has raised concerns about INEC's planned use of AI, but the party's allegation of an intended electoral manipulation should not be treated as an established fact without supporting evidence.