The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged members of the 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to enhance their skills in identifying and evaluating digitally manipulated evidence. He made this call during a three-day workshop for Justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the Election Petition Tribunals in Abuja. Amupitan warned that malicious actors could exploit emerging technologies to disrupt elections and undermine public confidence in electoral outcomes.
Amupitan identified potential threats to the electoral process, including artificial intelligence-generated audio messages impersonating election officials, fabricated videos of candidates, and cloned declarations of election results. He also warned that deepfake videos and audio recordings could be released shortly before elections to falsely portray candidates or electoral officials as making fraudulent admissions. These threats, he noted, could trigger confusion and civil unrest during the electoral process.
The INEC chairman emphasized the importance of establishing digital provenance, forensic chain of custody, and authentication of records obtained from INEC. He called for the rigorous application of the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act on electronic evidence. Amupitan stressed that reliance on certified electoral data and credible forensic processes would be essential to prevent manipulated digital materials from misleading the courts.
Amupitan described the judiciary as a critical pillar of Nigeria’s democratic stability, noting that while INEC is responsible for conducting elections, the courts provide the constitutional platform for resolving disputes arising from the electoral process. He said the credibility of elections should not be measured solely by voting procedures and the declaration of results, but also by public confidence in the fairness, independence, and effectiveness of the judicial process for resolving electoral grievances.
The INEC chairman cited Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and Section 134(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 as part of the legal framework for channelling electoral disputes through judicial processes. He noted that election tribunals serve as constitutional mechanisms for addressing political disagreements peacefully, holding electoral institutions accountable, and preventing disputes from degenerating into violence.
Amupitan cautioned that delays, inconsistent decisions, and excessive technicalities in the adjudication of election petitions could undermine public confidence and threaten political stability. He also called for consistent judicial interpretation of electoral laws, particularly on substantial compliance, burden and standard of proof, candidate nomination, and the consequences of proven electoral non-compliance.
The workshop aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the Electoral Act 2026, electronic evidence, and the relationship between BVAS, IReV, and physical result sheets. Amupitan assured that the Commission would maintain reliable documentation, preserve electoral materials, and facilitate lawful access to relevant records and explanations through appropriate judicial processes.
Key points
- INEC chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan urges election tribunals to strengthen capacity to identify and evaluate digitally manipulated evidence.
- Potential threats to the electoral process include artificial intelligence-generated audio messages and deepfake videos.
- Amupitan emphasizes the importance of establishing digital provenance and authentication of records obtained from INEC.
