The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence could pose a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, raised the concern during the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria in Abuja.
Amupitan, who was represented at the event by National Commissioner Sani Adam, said advances in generative AI had made it easier to create and circulate manipulated audio, videos, images and other content capable of misleading voters.
He warned that such content could spread rapidly across social media before fact-checkers or election authorities have an opportunity to verify and debunk it.
According to him, the challenge extends beyond fake content, as political actors could exploit algorithmic microtargeting to send contradictory messages to different groups of voters, potentially creating confusion and distorting public perception.
“Electoral credibility rests not only on the sanctity of the ballot but also on the credibility of the information surrounding the electoral process,” Amupitan said.
To mitigate the emerging threats, the commission said it was conducting a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems ahead of the 2027 elections.
It is also considering a mock presidential election to test voter accreditation and electronic result transmission under conditions similar to those expected on election day.
The INEC chairman disclosed that substantial resources were being committed to upgrading the commission’s technology, including the deployment of new voter accreditation devices.
He outlined a five-point strategy to tackle emerging electoral threats, including stronger integration of technology and communication, rapid-response mechanisms for misinformation, and closer collaboration with fact-checkers, media organisations and technology platforms.
Amupitan stressed that INEC was not seeking to restrict journalism or suppress legitimate criticism.
Rather, he said the commission’s objective was to ensure that voters had access to timely, accurate and verified information during the electoral process.
He urged communication scholars, journalists, technology companies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to work with INEC to strengthen media literacy and protect the information environment ahead of the 2027 elections.
