The Independent National Electoral Commission has identified artificial intelligence-generated misinformation, deepfakes and algorithm-driven political content as emerging challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that technology must not undermine voters’ ability to make informed choices.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), said although algorithms would not determine the official outcome of the elections, artificial intelligence could influence the information available to voters, electoral logistics and the tactics of those seeking to manipulate the electoral process.
Amupitan spoke on Wednesday at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, co-convened by INEC and Yiaga Africa, with the theme, “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
“Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote,” the INEC chairman said, insisting that the authority to choose Nigeria’s leaders rested with the electorate.
“Algorithms may predict patterns; they may optimise routes, and they may even suggest preferences. But they do not have a conscience, they do not have a country, and they do not have a vote,” he added.
However, the commission acknowledged that the growing use of AI and automated systems could shape the political information environment in which Nigerians form their opinions and make electoral decisions.
“While algorithms will not decide the vote, AI will undeniably shape the information environment in which citizens form their choices, influence the speed and security of electoral logistics, and alter the tactics of both democratic actors and anti-democratic disruptors,” Amupitan said.
The development places the spread of misleading political content, manipulated audiovisual materials and targeted online campaigns among the issues confronting electoral authorities ahead of the polls.
Generative AI can produce convincing but fabricated audio recordings, videos and images, raising concerns about the possible circulation of false statements attributed to candidates and public officials during election campaigns.
Amupitan warned that such content could mislead voters and weaken public confidence in authentic electoral information.
“The greatest threat we face is not the hacking of a ballot box, but the hacking of the voter’s mind,” he said.
“If a voter cannot distinguish between truth and a synthetic lie, the foundation of informed consent crumbles.”
The chairman identified deepfakes, synthetic media, targeted political advertising, algorithmic bias and automated cyberattacks among the threats that could affect the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Although he did not say that social media algorithms would determine the election outcome, his remarks highlighted concerns about the influence of digital platforms on the information voters encounter during campaigns.
Social media platforms use automated systems to recommend and distribute content to users. Depending on how these systems operate and how political actors exploit them, campaign messages and misleading claims may reach large audiences, potentially shaping public debate.
The challenge for electoral authorities is therefore not limited to protecting ballot papers, voter accreditation systems and result collation. It also involves responding to digital threats that could undermine public understanding of the electoral process.
Amupitan said INEC would not surrender critical electoral decisions to automated systems, stressing that human oversight and established legal procedures would remain central to the conduct of the elections.
“No critical electoral decision, result collation, voter accreditation, or candidate qualification will ever be fully automated or delegated to an autonomous system,” he said.
“Human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain.”
The PUNCH reports that INEC had earlier disclosed plans to deploy AI-powered tools to identify anomalies in election results and combat disinformation ahead of the 2027 polls.
At its world press conference on October 6, the commission announced the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology Directorate.
INEC said automated AI auditing tools had already been integrated into its results verification process, while an AI governance policy was being finalised under a five-pillar framework that provides for mandatory human oversight.
At Wednesday’s forum, Amupitan said the commission’s AI unit was equipped with digital monitoring tools, deepfake detection software and data analytics expertise to track technical threats and attempts to manipulate electoral information.
However, the commission’s preparations will also require cooperation among political parties, media organisations, civil society groups, security agencies and technology companies.
Amupitan called on political parties to adopt an ethical code of conduct governing the use of AI in political campaigns.
He also urged civil society organisations to scrutinise algorithmic transparency and monitor digital campaign spending, while asking security agencies and judicial officers to strengthen their capacity for cybercrime investigations and digital forensics.
The chairman called on media organisations to establish digital forensic desks to verify user-generated content before publication or broadcast.
He further proposed an Electoral Information Integrity Coalition involving INEC, civil society organisations, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Fact-Checking Coalition, media organisations and telecommunications operators.
According to him, the proposed coalition would serve as an early-warning network against the spread of AI-generated falsehoods capable of undermining the electoral process.
The 2027 elections will involve more than 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in 774 local government areas, making the exercise a major test of the commission’s electoral administration and information-management systems.
The polls will cover presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly contests.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones outlined under the Electoral Act 2026.
He said the commission had procured additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, digitised candidate nominations through its INEC Candidates Nomination Portal and processed more than 15,000 nominations across 22 political parties.
The introduction of online voter registration was also among the initiatives outlined to improve electoral administration.
On the potential benefits of AI, the chairman said the technology could improve logistics and route planning, assist in auditing election results, strengthen biometric database management, facilitate voter engagement in multiple languages and improve cybersecurity.
Despite the risks associated with the technology, Amupitan maintained that the ultimate authority in the electoral process belonged to Nigerian voters.
He cited market women, farmers, teachers, technology entrepreneurs, fishermen and students as among the citizens whose votes would determine the country’s political future.
“On election day in 2027, it will be the thumbprint of the Nigerian citizen, guided by their own will and their own hopes, that decides our future,” he said.
“INEC’s job is to ensure that the voice of the people is heard clearly, above the noise of the machines.”
The chairman said democracy should be shaped by citizens exercising their rights under established laws and institutions, rather than by the capabilities of technology.
