INEC Should Be Very Careful In Relying On AI—Maxwell Opara

Public interest lawyer Maxwell Opara has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against overreliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in monitoring elections and processing results ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Opara gave the warning during an interview with Arise News on DJ Live, where he discussed INEC’s preparations for the forthcoming elections and concerns surrounding the commission’s plan to establish an AI unit.

He said, “The INEC should also be very careful in relying on AI,” stressing the need to consider the legal implications of using the technology in electoral processes.

According to the lawyer, AI systems can generate incorrect information, raising questions about accountability when users rely on faulty outputs.

Opara explained that discussions at the International Bar Association conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, had examined several legal challenges associated with artificial intelligence.

He questioned who should bear responsibility when an AI product supplies inaccurate information, particularly when such information influences important decisions.

The lawyer also expressed uncertainty about the AI company INEC intends to engage and how the commission would address potential errors arising from the technology.

His warning comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, with INEC reporting an increase in registered voters from 92 million during the previous election cycle to 103 million.

Beyond the AI concerns, Opara defended the commission’s statutory authority to announce election results, distinguishing that responsibility from the right of political parties and observers to obtain and monitor results.

He argued that political parties should be allowed to deploy technology, including surveillance cameras and other monitoring systems, to independently document electoral proceedings.

According to him, such measures could provide evidence when discrepancies arise between observed results and official declarations.

Opara maintained that independent monitoring could strengthen electoral transparency and help establish credible evidence in disputes arising from the 2027 elections.