2027: NDC rejects INEC plan to deploy AI

Osa Director, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has cautioned Nigerians to be apprehensive about the 2027 general elections. He emphasized that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) poses the "greatest threat" to Nigeria's democracy, even without citing a recent revelation. Concerns have been raised over the accessibility of some 2023 election records on INEC’s electronic results platform and INEC's intention to incorporate artificial intelligence in the 2027 elections.

Osa Director insisted that Nigeria needs to compel INEC to conduct a free, fair, transparent, and credible election, while also seeking international support to pressure the commission. He reiterated his lack of trust in INEC, not solely due to the latest concern but due to his general dissatisfaction with the commission's performance.

This follows a report from MundX Analytics, which revealed issues with accessing 2023 election records on INEC’s Results Viewing Portal. These issues include expired domains and redirecting users to advertising websites, potentially compromising access to critical election data. INEC, however, maintains that the 2023 election results remain intact and securely stored on Amazon Web Services, denying any loss of records.

The controversy has heightened concerns over the preservation and accessibility of electronic election records leading up to the 2027 general elections. Osa Director also opposed INEC's planned deployment of artificial intelligence, questioning the commission's capability to manage the technology effectively. He specifically rejected the proposed use of AI, asserting that INEC has not proven capable of effectively managing the technology previously.