A national summit on Artificial Intelligence and electoral information integrity, tagged “Beyond the Ballot,” has been held in Abuja, Nigeria. The summit, organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders, aimed to sensitize Nigerians on the need to safeguard electoral information integrity in the age of Artificial Intelligence. The Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Dr. Lanre Arogundade, emphasized the importance of verifying electoral information before sharing, believing, or amplifying it. He warned that the spread of false and misleading electoral information could undermine national peace, security, and unity.
The summit was attended by over 300 participants from various sectors, including INEC, security agencies, political parties, media organizations, technology platforms, telecommunications operators, fact-checking organizations, civil society groups, and academia. The participants aimed to develop a coordinated response to electoral information threats. Dr. Arogundade cited findings from the 2023 general election, which showed that 63 percent of presidential and National Assembly claims reviewed by the Nigeria Fact-Checkers’ Coalition were entirely false. He also disclosed that false claims reportedly reached a second digital platform within an average of 11 minutes.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Mohammed Idris, represented by Dr. Dili Ezuga, declared the summit open and described it as timely. He urged journalists and other Nigerians to exercise due diligence in verifying information before sharing or amplifying it. Dr. Idris emphasized that democracy could not thrive when misinformation traveled faster than the truth. He stressed that technology alone could not guarantee electoral fairness without responsible journalism and collective vigilance against false information.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, assured Nigerians that the Commission was committed to delivering credible elections in 2027. He warned that electoral threats had moved beyond physical interference at polling units to digital platforms, where deepfakes, synthetic media, automated misinformation, and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference could undermine elections long before voting commenced. Prof. Amupitan emphasized that efforts to combat electoral misinformation must not become an avenue for censorship, suppression of political dissent, or violation of citizens’ rights.
Prof. Amupitan disclosed that INEC had an existing Memorandum of Understanding with TikTok and was seeking stronger collaboration with other social media platforms. He also assured that INEC was strengthening its capacity to detect deepfakes, verify suspicious media, and issue timely clarifications through digital and traditional communication channels. The INEC chairman emphasized the need for a coordinated response involving the media, civil society, technology companies, telecommunications providers, fact-checkers, and security agencies to protect the integrity of the 2027 elections.
Former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, acknowledged Artificial Intelligence as a useful tool for improving efficiency but stressed the need for the electoral commission to strengthen its preparedness against deepfakes and deliberate information manipulation. During a panel discussion on understanding Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, moderated by Prof. Umaru Pate, the need for stronger institutional preparedness and public awareness to prevent information manipulation was highlighted.
The Founder of Rise Network, Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, argued that Nigeria’s ability to regulate Artificial Intelligence remained limited because the country did not own the technology. She advocated for the introduction of Artificial Intelligence as a compulsory general core course in tertiary institutions to equip students with the knowledge required to understand and responsibly engage with emerging technologies. The summit provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence in the electoral process.
Key points
- The summit aimed to sensitize Nigerians on the need to safeguard electoral information integrity in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
- The spread of false and misleading electoral information could undermine national peace, security, and unity.
- INEC is strengthening its capacity to detect deepfakes, verify suspicious media, and issue timely clarifications through digital and traditional communication channels.
