INEC Assures Nigerians AI Will Not Determine Winners of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that artificial intelligence and computer algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections, insisting that the power to choose the country’s leaders rests solely with voters.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, where he discussed the role of emerging technologies in election administration. He maintained that although AI could support electoral processes, it would not replace the decisions of Nigerian voters.

Amupitan explained that the commission intends to deploy AI tools to improve election logistics, strengthen cybersecurity, analyse data and assist in verifying election results. He noted that the technology could help identify irregularities and improve operational efficiency, but stressed that critical electoral decisions would remain subject to human supervision and established legal procedures.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communication Technology department. According to him, automated auditing tools have been incorporated into its result-verification process under a governance framework designed to ensure human oversight.

He warned that the growing use of AI also presents risks to electoral credibility, particularly through deepfake videos, fabricated audio recordings, misleading online content and cyberattacks capable of confusing voters or undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

Amupitan consequently called on political parties, media organisations, civil society groups and security agencies to work together to counter election-related misinformation and promote responsible use of artificial intelligence ahead of the polls.

He reiterated that the commission’s responsibility was to ensure that the will of Nigerians was accurately reflected in the results, adding that technology would serve as a supporting tool rather than an authority empowered to decide who wins an election.