The Obidient Movement has rejected plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy Artificial Intelligence in the collation of election results in the 2027 general elections, warning that Nigerians will not accept another “manufactured election.”

The movement said it was particularly concerned that INEC was considering the use of AI for results collation while admitting that its framework for governing the technology had not been finalised.

In a statement, the group described the proposed deployment as “reckless and unacceptable,” arguing that Nigerians should not be used as “guinea pigs” for an untested electoral system.

The Obidient Movement said INEC should instead focus on restoring confidence in the electoral process following the controversy surrounding the 2023 elections. It alleged that the Commission’s handling of the 2023 election, including the problems associated with the IReV results portal, had already created a serious credibility crisis.

The group also criticised INEC Chairman’s warning against individuals and media organisations announcing or declaring results that had not been officially released by the Commission, saying the warning raised questions about the level of control INEC sought to exercise over the results process.

The movement further raised allegations about alleged political links between INEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu administration, including an unverified claim that the INEC Chairman had met Tinubu, Nyesom Wike and other political actors in France over strategies for the 2027 election. The allegation was not substantiated in the statement.

The group demanded that INEC abandon plans to use AI in results collation and publish an independently auditable framework for every technology deployed during the election.

It also called for the publication of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D and EC8E on IReV, insisting that every result must remain traceable to the polling unit and verifiable by political parties, observers, journalists and citizens.

The Obidient Movement warned that Nigerians would resist any arrangement capable of manipulating election results, insisting that the outcome of the 2027 election must reflect the actual votes cast by Nigerians.