The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has started deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to identify discrepancies and administrative errors in election results before they are finally validated. This move is part of INEC's efforts to ensure the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, revealed this information at the 24th All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu.
To effectively implement AI in its operations, INEC has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department. The commission has also developed an AI Roadmap and Governance Framework that prioritizes human oversight, transparency, accountability, data protection, and cybersecurity. This framework aims to ensure that AI complements human officials and strengthens electoral integrity.
According to Prof. Amupitan, INEC has commenced deploying intelligent AI tools directly within its results management process. These tools automatically scan and detect discrepancies or administrative errors in result records before final validation. However, Amupitan emphasized that AI would not replace human officials, as every automated result check would remain subject to human auditing and legal verification.
INEC is also taking steps to protect itself against AI-generated fake result sheets, cloned voices of electoral officials, fabricated videos, and forged official documents. The commission has engaged senior executives of Microsoft and Google on cybersecurity resilience, cloud infrastructure protection, and threat mitigation. Additionally, discussions with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems are focused on technical capacity building and responsible AI integration.
Prof. Amupitan warned that synthetic disinformation could cause Nigerians to lose confidence in genuine election results. He listed possible threats ahead of the 2027 elections, including fake videos of electoral officials announcing results, cloned audio recordings allegedly directing manipulation of voting devices, forged letters announcing election postponements, and manipulated result sheets. The challenge is expected to be greater in 2027 due to the elections taking place across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled to take place on January 16 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and February 6 for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. Prof. Amupitan urged the media to prioritize verification in election reporting and resist the pressure to publish unverified claims simply because they are trending online. He also encouraged media organizations to establish fact-checking desks and adopt deepfake detection software, digital verification tools, and forensic image analysis.
In his address to the media, Prof. Amupitan stressed the importance of being right over being first in national elections. He encouraged media organizations to take a cautious approach to reporting and to prioritize accuracy and verification. By working together, INEC and the media can help ensure the integrity of the electoral process and maintain public trust in the 2027 general elections.
Key points
- INEC is deploying AI to detect errors and fake results in the 2027 general elections.
- The commission has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division and developed an AI Roadmap and Governance Framework.
- INEC is working with international partners to build technical capacity and integrate responsible AI in its operations.
