Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that artificial intelligence (AI)-driven disinformation poses a significant threat to the credibility of the country’s 2027 general election, as the electoral body steps up preparations to safeguard public confidence in the democratic process.
The warning was issued by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, during a keynote address delivered on his behalf at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria in Abuja. The conference focused on the growing influence of digital technology and artificial intelligence on elections across Africa.
According to the commission, advances in generative AI have made it increasingly easy to create convincing fake videos, audio recordings, and images that can mislead voters and erode confidence in electoral institutions. INEC said the credibility of future elections would depend not only on secure voting systems but also on ensuring accurate information reaches the public quickly and effectively.
The commission noted that technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) were introduced to improve transparency. However, it acknowledged that the challenges experienced during the 2023 general election demonstrated that election technology must be reliable, well understood by voters and supported by effective public communication.
As part of its preparations for the 2027 polls, INEC said it is carrying out a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology infrastructure and is considering a mock presidential election to test its systems before the nationwide vote. The commission also revealed that discussions with technology manufacturers are under way while it awaits the release of funding earmarked for election technology and operations.
To counter the threat of AI-generated misinformation, INEC outlined a strategy that includes integrating technology and communications planning, establishing rapid-response mechanisms to address false claims, strengthening collaboration with media organisations, fact-checkers and technology platforms, and expanding public media literacy initiatives.
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The commission stressed that combating AI-enabled disinformation will require coordinated efforts involving electoral authorities, journalists, researchers, technology companies and civil society to preserve trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The warning reflects a broader global concern over the use of artificial intelligence in elections. Electoral authorities in several countries have highlighted the growing risks posed by deepfakes, synthetic media and online misinformation, which can spread rapidly and influence public perceptions even when official election systems remain secure.
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