The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has raised concerns over the increasing use of artificial intelligence to create fake election results, deepfake videos, and manipulated audio ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, warned that the rapid development of generative AI has created a new challenge for election communication, with fabricated materials capable of appearing genuine and spreading widely before they can be verified. This threat is already becoming part of Nigeria's electoral environment.
Amupitan was represented by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, at a capacity-building workshop for INEC's Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) in Abuja. The workshop, themed "Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027," aimed to equip PAOs with the skills to handle the challenges of election communication in the digital age. Amupitan noted that the increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence means that false information can now be produced at a lower cost and in forms that may be difficult for ordinary members of the public to identify as fake.
The INEC chairman stressed that the integrity of an election now extends beyond what happens at polling units and during the collation of results. He emphasized that election credibility today depends not only on ballot papers, BVAS machines, and result sheets but also on the information environment in which voters form their judgments. Amupitan called for a single discipline approach to electoral technology and electoral communication, rather than treating them as separate concerns. He also warned that the amount of information about INEC and the electoral process would rise significantly as the elections draw closer.
INEC has fixed February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027. As the elections approach, Amupitan stressed the need for public affairs officers to verify information, respond quickly to false claims, and ensure that official communication remains consistent. The commission's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, highlighted the important role of INEC's communication officers in shaping public understanding of electoral activities.
Eta-Messi noted that INEC operates under constant public scrutiny and frequently faces attempts to misrepresent its activities. She added that additional capacity-building programs were being planned to strengthen the ability of INEC communication personnel to handle the challenges that would accompany the 2027 election cycle. The concern over AI-generated fake election content is not limited to INEC, as media stakeholders have also warned of the potential dangers of fabricated election information.
Media stakeholders, at the 8th Bagauda Kaltho Media Lecture Series organized by the Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF), identified fabricated election results, deepfake videos, and manipulated audio as some of the emerging dangers facing the electoral information space. They warned that false information can move across social media platforms at a speed that makes it difficult for professional newsrooms and fact-checkers to respond before the content reaches a large audience. This could become particularly sensitive on election days when voters, political parties, and the wider public are waiting for verified information from polling units and collation centers.
The media stakeholders called for stronger verification systems within newsrooms and greater investment in training journalists in fact-checking, digital verification, artificial intelligence, and investigative journalism. They also urged technology companies and digital platforms to work with media organizations, civil society groups, and relevant government institutions to develop better ways of identifying manipulated and AI-generated content. INEC and media stakeholders are working together to address the challenges posed by AI-generated fake election content and ensure the credibility of the 2027 Nigerian elections.
Key points
- INEC warns of growing threat of AI-generated fake election results ahead of 2027 Nigerian elections.
- Media stakeholders call for stronger verification systems and training for journalists to combat fake election content.
- INEC and media stakeholders are working together to address the challenges posed by AI-generated fake election content.
