AI for Integrity: Scholar Urges INEC to Adopt Artificial Intelligence for 2027 Polls
PORT HARCOURT — As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, a prominent academic and cleric, Reverend Father Innocent Uwah, has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) to secure the electronic transmission of results and restore public trust.
Speaking at the third matriculation ceremony of the Nigerian British University (NBU), Uwah, the institution’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, argued that the same technological precision currently transforming global banking and medicine must be applied to the Nigerian ballot. He noted that in an era where digital automation is the global standard, Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind.
Bridging the Credibility Gap
The call comes amid growing public concern and a perceived reluctance by the National Assembly to provide clear legal backing for real-time electronic result transmission. Uwah stressed that the proper deployment of AI-enabled technologies would not only boost INEC's capacity but also eliminate the human errors and manipulations that often lead to contested outcomes.
"If we key into automation enabled by AI, our electoral process will be clear and reliable," Uwah stated. "When results are declared, they will not be faulted. Why should we shy away from technologies that are already revolutionizing medicine and education?"
Drawing a sharp comparison to the financial sector, the scholar questioned why the nation can securely transmit billions of naira through digital banking channels but struggles to transmit election results. He cautioned that a refusal to adopt these tools suggests a "desire to hide something," urging the INEC chairman to lead the country into the 21st century.
NBU: A Hub for the Digital Future
Beyond the political sphere, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the rapid growth of the Nigerian British University as a technology-driven institution. Since its licensing in 2022, NBU has expanded to five faculties, including Law, Computing, and Health Sciences.
The institution recently welcomed 257 new students into its academic community. The College of Health Sciences saw the largest intake with 101 students, followed by the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology and the Faculty of Law, which admitted 52 students each. The Faculty of Management and Social Sciences welcomed 29 matriculants, while 23 joined the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
A Call to Excellence
Addressing the new intake, Uwah urged the students to resist negative peer pressure and embrace the rigors of academic discipline. He reminded them that as "ambassadors" of the institution, their focus should remain on innovation and character, reinforcing the university's mission to produce graduates who are ready to solve real-world problems through technology.
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