INEC Launches AI Division for 2027 Nigeria Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division to integrate automated auditing tools and cybersecurity systems into Nigeria's 2027 general elections. Chairman Joash Amupitan announced that these tools, developed in partnership with Google and Microsoft, will flag data inconsistencies for human review under a five-pillar AI Governance Framework to protect public portals from cyber intrusions and deepfakes.

Amupitan warned that unverified claims of fraud and AI-generated misinformation cause enduring damage to public confidence. To mitigate this, the commission proposed a partnership with the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers focusing on digital fact-verification and voter education. INEC has also begun distributing non-sensitive electoral materials and vehicles to 774 Local Government Areas to prevent transportation bottlenecks.

The initiative has faced strong opposition from political actors. The Obidient Movement rejected the plan as reckless, arguing that Nigerians should not be subjects of an untested electoral experiment. Senator David Mark of the African Democratic Congress further cautioned that while his party would follow the rules, it would not accept rigging. Critics cite the technical failures of the IReV portal during the 2023 elections as evidence that the commission should prioritize transparency over new technology.