The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allegedly planning to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 general elections in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The opposition party raised the allegation amid growing discussions about INEC’s proposed deployment of AI technology in election management ahead of the nationwide polls.
Osa Director, the NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, made the allegation in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, questioning the commission’s readiness to introduce the technology into the electoral process.
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According to the party, the proposed use of AI raises concerns about transparency, accountability and the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
Director questioned why INEC had not conducted sufficient public trials of the proposed AI tools during off-cycle elections before considering their deployment for the 2027 general elections.
He specifically cited the Osun State governorship election, arguing that it could have provided an opportunity to assess the technology’s effectiveness and identify potential weaknesses before a nationwide rollout.
The NDC spokesperson also questioned the rationale behind introducing AI into election administration when, according to him, the country had yet to fully harness the technology to address pressing 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?” Director asked.
He further expressed concern about the timing of the proposed deployment, suggesting that INEC had not provided sufficient assurances regarding the reliability and integrity of the technology.
The party maintained that any technology intended to support the electoral process should undergo adequate testing and public scrutiny before being adopted for an election of national importance.
The opposition party urged Nigerians and the international community to closely monitor INEC’s plans for incorporating AI into the 2027 elections.
Director described the proposed deployment as a potential threat to electoral credibility and called on stakeholders to scrutinise the commission’s approach.
The party’s concerns have added to the wider debate over the role of emerging technologies in Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly regarding how automated tools could affect the verification of results, election logistics and public confidence in the voting process.
However, the NDC’s allegation that INEC intends to manipulate the election has not been substantiated with publicly presented evidence in the reports reviewed.
The allegation comes as INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has publicly addressed the commission’s plans to use AI ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the AI and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, Amupitan said artificial intelligence must not be allowed to determine the outcome of the election.
He maintained that the choice of Nigeria’s leaders must remain with the electorate, while technology should support the administration and security of the electoral process.
According to the INEC chairman, AI could assist with election logistics, identifying irregularities in results, improving voter registration records and strengthening cybersecurity.
He also stressed the importance of human oversight, transparency and accountability in the application of AI to electoral operations.
The commission has indicated that its proposed use of the technology is intended to improve efficiency and help identify potential anomalies, rather than replace established electoral procedures.
INEC’s position comes amid concerns from civil society organisations and other stakeholders about the risks associated with AI-generated misinformation, manipulated media and the potential misuse of automated systems during election campaigns.
The disagreement highlights the growing importance of transparency as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
While the NDC has questioned the timing and readiness of INEC’s proposed AI deployment, the commission has maintained that technology should support, rather than determine, electoral outcomes.
As of the latest reports reviewed, INEC had not publicly responded directly to the NDC’s specific allegation that the proposed deployment was intended to favour the APC.
Whether AI can strengthen the electoral process will depend on how the technology is implemented, independently scrutinised and subjected to clear accountability measures.
For now, the NDC’s claims remain allegations, while INEC’s stated position is that the final outcome of the 2027 elections must be determined by the votes of Nigerians.
