INEC Boss Declares: Algorithms Won't Sway 2027 Elections!

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has unequivocally assured Nigerians that the outcome of the 2027 general elections will be determined by citizens, not algorithms. This crucial declaration was made during his keynote address at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, an event organised in collaboration with Yiaga Africa, under the theme “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”

Responding directly to the pertinent question, “Will Algorithms Decide the 2027 Vote?”, Amupitan stressed that algorithms “will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote.” He highlighted the dramatic shift in the digital landscape since the 2023 elections, noting that artificial intelligence now possesses a growing capacity to influence the information voters consume and their fundamental trust in electoral processes. While acknowledging AI's potential to shape the information environment and enhance electoral logistics, he cautioned against its significant misuse, particularly through the manipulation of voters with artificially generated content.

Prof. Amupitan issued a stark warning regarding the advancements in generative AI, which now facilitates the effortless creation of deepfake videos depicting candidates and public officials making statements they never uttered. Such deceptive content could falsely announce a candidate’s withdrawal, claim an election postponement, or circulate inflammatory statements, thereby misleading voters before these fabrications can be effectively debunked. He also raised concerns about the impersonation of INEC officials to disseminate fake electoral guidelines or fabricated results, aiming to undermine the integrity of the process.

To counteract these formidable threats, Amupitan revealed that INEC has proactively established an AI Unit within its Information and Communication Technology Directorate. This specialized unit is equipped with advanced real-time monitoring tools, sophisticated deepfake detection software, and robust data analytics capabilities designed to identify emerging threats and combat information manipulation. He firmly underscored that critical electoral decisions, including result collation, voter accreditation, and candidate qualification, would not be fully automated or delegated to autonomous systems. Instead, human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain.

Furthermore, the INEC chairman explained that any AI tools deployed for logistics and database management would undergo rigorous audits to ensure their explainability, fairness, and security. The commission is also actively developing a comprehensive Digital Strategy to assess the electoral information environment and is collaborating with technology platforms to swiftly debunk AI-generated falsehoods. Amupitan, however, did not solely focus on the risks; he also outlined how AI could significantly improve election administration by supporting planning, enhancing accuracy, and optimizing the deployment of personnel and materials.

Illustrating AI's potential benefits, he explained that geospatial analytics could assist INEC in deploying staff and election materials to an extensive network of 176,846 polling units by 7:30 a.m. on election day, by meticulously analyzing traffic, weather, and security data. Additionally, AI could support parallel statistical audits of polling unit results uploaded via the eEC8A, help detect duplicate registrations within the register of over 103 million voters, translate vital voter education materials into indigenous languages, and strengthen cybersecurity measures for critical platforms such as the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Candidates Nomination Portal.

These proposed applications are designed to build upon existing electoral reforms, which include the Smart Card Reader, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The chairman also highlighted the commission’s successful digitization of candidate nominations, the introduction of online voter registration, and the ongoing nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Describing the 2027 elections as Africa’s largest democratic exercise, involving more than 103 million registered voters across 774 local government areas, Amupitan issued a call to action for major technology companies, including Meta, X, Google, TikTok, and Telegram. He urged them to restrict the circulation of unlabelled synthetic media impersonating candidates and electoral officials and to enforce clear disclaimers on all political advertisements. He also proposed the formation of an Electoral Information Integrity Coalition, comprising INEC, civil society organizations, the media, and telecommunications operators, to function as an early warning network against AI-generated electoral misinformation.

To further bolster voter resilience, the commission, he stated, would work alongside the National Orientation Agency and other stakeholders to incorporate AI media literacy into voter education initiatives. Amupitan also appealed to political parties to sign an Ethical AI Code of Conduct, committing them to abstain from creating or disseminating deepfakes, synthetic impersonations, and botnets. Furthermore, he called upon security agencies, the judiciary, and the media to enhance their capacities to effectively address election-related challenges involving AI.

In a powerful closing statement, Amupitan declared, “Algorithms have no moral compass, no civic duty and no constitutional oath. On election day in 2027, it will be the thumbprint of the Nigerian citizen, guided by their own will and their own hopes, that decides our future.” The forum was attended by numerous dignitaries, including the Chairperson of ECONEC and Chairman of the Senegal Electoral Commission, Mr. Abdoulaye Sylla, alongside national commissioners, resident electoral commissioners, representatives of election management bodies, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, technology firms, and the media.