YIAGA Africa and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have called for responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that the technology could pose risks to electoral credibility if abused.
The stakeholders made the call at the opening of the two-day AI and Democracy Forum 2026, organised by YIAGA Africa in collaboration with local and international development partners.
The forum, held on Wednesday, focused on the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence in elections, with the theme, “Will Algorithms Determine the 2027 Vote? Safeguarding Nigeria’s 2027 General Election in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Mr Samson Itodo, said the forum was convened to provide a platform for stakeholders to explore how AI could improve electoral processes while identifying ways to prevent its misuse.
He said the initiative also aimed to educate voters and electoral stakeholders on the tools and safeguards needed to address the risks associated with AI as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections.
Itodo expressed concern over declining public confidence in the electoral process, noting that doubts about the credibility of elections and whether votes would count remained significant challenges.
He referred to a recent YIAGA Africa national voting intention survey, which, according to him, indicated widespread concerns among Nigerians about the credibility of the electoral process ahead of the next general elections.
He attributed some of the concerns to controversies surrounding the deployment of technology during the 2023 general elections.
“The climate of distrust in the electoral process is palpable, and you can feel it,” Itodo said, stressing the need for INEC and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to rebuild public confidence.
He maintained that restoring trust in elections required collective action by the electoral commission, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
According to him, artificial intelligence could contribute to rebuilding confidence in elections if deployed responsibly, transparently and with adequate safeguards.
Itodo commended INEC for its efforts to integrate AI into electoral administration, describing the commission’s establishment of a dedicated AI division as an important step towards managing emerging technological challenges.
He, however, warned that the effectiveness of AI systems depended not only on the technology itself but also on the integrity of the people responsible for operating them.
He said compromised individuals could manipulate AI systems and undermine the credibility of the outcomes they were designed to support.
The YIAGA Africa executive director said discussions at the forum would examine governance frameworks and strategies for maximising AI’s benefits while mitigating potential threats to the 2027 elections.
AI-Powered Election Results and Transparency
Itodo also addressed the growing use of AI-powered platforms to collate and analyse election results, insisting that only INEC had the legal authority to declare official election results and winners.
He clarified that other stakeholders could deploy independent tools to aggregate results, monitor the collation process and promote accountability, provided their activities were guided by accuracy and transparency.
He urged organisations using AI-powered platforms for election results analysis to adhere to three key principles: data integrity, methodological transparency and auditability.
According to him, inaccurate results or misleading information could fuel political instability and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
He also emphasised the importance of making the methodologies behind AI systems open to scrutiny, noting that transparent processes would help stakeholders assess the reliability of the information being published.
Itodo cited YIAGA Africa’s election observation and results verification initiatives, including its Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology and election results analysis dashboard, as examples of tools used to support electoral accountability.
He urged INEC to sustain its commitment to openness, arguing that greater transparency in election administration would improve public acceptance of electoral outcomes.
INEC Establishes Dedicated AI Unit
In his keynote address, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, said artificial intelligence had become an important part of modern electoral administration and that the commission was already exploring its applications.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established a dedicated unit for artificial intelligence to strengthen its use in election management and develop safeguards against the risks associated with the technology.
He commended YIAGA Africa for bringing electoral stakeholders together to discuss the implications of AI for Nigeria’s democratic process.
The INEC chairman said the commission had been using AI to address logistical and other operational challenges, adding that the technology could improve efficiency when properly managed.
He also acknowledged the dangers associated with AI, particularly the potential use of manipulated videos, fabricated content and other forms of digital misinformation to influence voters.
According to him, such activities could distort public understanding of electoral issues and manipulate voters’ perceptions ahead of the elections.
Amupitan assured Nigerians and the international community of INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair and transparent elections in 2027.
He stressed that adequate preparations were being made to address emerging technological threats and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The INEC chairman concluded that although artificial intelligence could influence the electoral environment, the responsibility for choosing Nigeria’s leaders must remain with the electorate.
“Only Nigerians, not AI, will elect their leaders come 2027,” he assured.
The forum is expected to provide stakeholders with further opportunities to develop practical approaches to responsible AI deployment, counter electoral misinformation and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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