The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to deliver credible elections in 2027 amid growing concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could spread disinformation, manipulate voters, and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance at the AI and Democracy Forum 2026, organised by Yiaga Africa and its partners in Abuja on Wednesday.
Amupitan said the commission was preparing to conduct elections involving approximately 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
He stressed that although technology would play an important role in electoral administration, human judgement and the law would still govern critical decisions.
“Algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 votes,” he said, warning that the threat posed by AI extended beyond electoral infrastructure to the spread of digitally manufactured falsehoods capable of influencing public opinion.
The commission identified AI-generated audio, fabricated endorsements, manipulated videos, and automated disinformation campaigns as potential threats to election credibility. Such material could misrepresent candidates, circulate false announcements and mislead voters about electoral developments.
These concerns come as advances in generative AI make it easier to produce convincing images, videos, and audio recordings that the public may find difficult to distinguish from authentic material.
Amupitan said INEC would not allow AI systems to replace human oversight in critical electoral functions, including voter accreditation, results collation and the assessment of candidates’ qualifications. He maintained that statutory procedures, judicial review and public scrutiny would remain central to the electoral process.
The chairman also disclosed that INEC had established an AI unit within its Information and Communications Technology department. The commission is finalising an AI governance framework in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), with support from the British High Commission.
The proposed framework aims to guide the responsible use of AI in election administration while addressing risks associated with disinformation, digital manipulation, and the misuse of technology.
The British High Commission’s representative, Matthew Ayibakuro, confirmed the partnership with INEC through IFES, describing the relationship between AI and democracy as an increasingly important challenge for electoral institutions.
He said the initiative aimed to ensure that technology strengthened democratic processes rather than created additional vulnerabilities.
Yiaga Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo, warned that technological safeguards alone would not guarantee credible elections without public trust and accountability among those responsible for managing electoral systems.
Itodo said concerns about confidence in the electoral process remained significant ahead of the 2027 polls. He also cautioned that inaccurate figures circulated by independent election-results aggregation platforms could create confusion and heighten political tensions.
He urged organisations publishing election data to adopt transparent methodologies, maintain accurate records, and allow independent audits of their systems.
Itodo further emphasised that, although independent organisations could monitor elections and aggregate results, INEC remained the legally authorised body responsible for declaring official election results.
Abdoulaye Sylla, chairman of Senegal’s Electoral Commission and head of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), also called for stronger safeguards against emerging digital threats.
He identified deepfakes, algorithmic bias, data privacy violations, cyber threats and voter manipulation as issues requiring greater attention from electoral authorities across West Africa.
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According to INEC, 10 of the 14 major activities on its electoral timetable had been completed at the time of the announcement. Amupitan also disclosed that the commission had procured additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and that its candidate nomination portal had processed more than 15,000 nominations across 22 political parties.
The developments form part of preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, as electoral authorities and civil society organisations seek to address both technological risks and longstanding concerns about electoral transparency.
While AI offers potential benefits for election planning, data analysis and administrative efficiency, its misuse could complicate efforts to provide voters with accurate information and maintain confidence in official results.
INEC’s challenge will be to ensure that emerging technologies strengthen the electoral process without compromising transparency, accountability or the public’s ability to verify information.
Ultimately, the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on the technology deployed but also on the integrity of electoral officials, compliance with the law and the confidence Nigerians place in the process.
Bio: An (HND, BA, MBA, MSc) is a tech-savvy digital marketing professional, writing on artificial intelligence, digital tools, and emerging technologies. He holds an HND in Marketing, is a Chartered Marketer, earned an MBA in Marketing Management from LAUTECH, a BA in Marketing Management and Web Technologies from York St John University, and an MSc in Social Business and Marketing Management from the University of Salford, Manchester.
He has professional experience across sales, hospitality, healthcare, digital marketing, and business development, and has worked with Sheraton Hotels, A24 Group, and Kendal Nutricare. A skilled editor and web designer, He focuses on simplifying complex technologies and highlighting AI-driven opportunities for businesses and professionals.
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