INEC chairman statement

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Joash Amupitan stated AI must not determine Nigeria's 2027 general election outcome.

“No, algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 vote.”

AI and Democracy Forum 2026

The forum, themed 'Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,' brought together representatives from Senegal, Kenya, Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

AI's role in elections

Amupitan said AI will shape the information environment, influence electoral logistics, and alter tactics of both democratic and anti-democratic actors.

AI for election logistics

INEC plans to manage over 100 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

2027 election dates

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for 16 January 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are on 6 February 2027.

AI for logistics challenges

AI could help INEC overcome logistical difficulties in remote areas through predictive modeling, geospatial analysis, and dynamic routing.

AI in voter registration

INEC has digitised candidate nominations through the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal, processing over 15,000 nominations from 22 political parties.

AI for result management

AI systems could detect anomalies in election results, including mathematical inconsistencies and image-quality problems in uploaded polling-unit results.

AI for voter register

AI-enhanced automated biometric identification systems help INEC identify duplicate biometric records in the national voter register.

INEC AI unit

INEC established an AI unit within its Information and Communication Technology department to develop an AI governance framework.

Yiaga Africa concerns

Yiaga Africa's executive director Samson Itodo warned that Nigerians' distrust of the electoral process remains high due to technology's role in the 2023 election.

AI result aggregation

Yiaga Africa urged organizations using AI for election results aggregation to ensure systems are accurate, transparent, and auditable.

AI security risks

Amupitan warned that INEC's digital infrastructure could become targets for malicious cyber actors exploiting AI technology.

AI governance framework

INEC is finalizing an AI governance framework guided by principles of integrity, transparency, human intervention, and public auditing.

2027 election challenges

INEC faces logistical challenges in remote areas, including Kabi Ward in Kuje Area Council of the FCT, with limited network coverage.

What happens next

The AI and Democracy Forum 2026 will develop practical recommendations for governing AI in Nigeria's electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.