By Mariam Abeeb
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for stronger digital defences and coordinated national action to tackle artificial intelligence-driven misinformation and disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the call at a national summit on Beyond the Ballot: Safeguarding Electoral Information Integrity in the Age of AI, held in Abuja, where he stressed the need to protect the information environment in which Nigerians make electoral decisions.
Amupitan said electoral integrity extended beyond securing polling units and ballot papers to ensuring that voters had access to credible information, warning that manipulated videos, fabricated audio recordings and other AI-generated content could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged institutions to move beyond reacting to viral misinformation by adopting preventive strategies, including digital literacy campaigns that would teach citizens how to identify fabricated content and verify information before sharing it.
He recommended short educational videos in local languages and the use of social media and messaging platforms to reach vulnerable communities.
The INEC chairman also called for increased investment in technological infrastructure and real-time response mechanisms to identify and debunk false information as soon as it emerges.
He warned that conventional fact-checking and delayed press statements might be ineffective against misleading content that spreads rapidly across digital platforms.
He further advocated stronger partnerships with major technology companies, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X, to facilitate the prompt identification and escalation of harmful AI-generated content.
According to him, INEC is strengthening its communication, information technology and voter education structures to improve its capacity to detect deepfakes, verify suspicious media and issue authoritative clarifications.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, represented by the Director-General of the National Press Centre, Diri Ezuga, also called for stronger collaboration among electoral institutions, media organisations, technology platforms and other stakeholders to protect information integrity ahead of the elections.
Idris said the credibility of elections depended not only on voting and the collation of results but also on the quality of information available to citizens before, during and after the exercise.
He cited Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, published in 2024, and the establishment of the UNESCO Category Two International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Nigeria as important initiatives for promoting responsible AI use and strengthening citizens’ ability to identify misinformation.
The minister also referenced the Electoral Act 2026, signed by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, which provides for mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results.
He, however, acknowledged concerns over technical reliability, operational capacity and possible interference, stressing that technology alone could not guarantee public confidence without transparent communication and credible information.
Similarly, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, called for stronger cooperation among electoral stakeholders, media organisations, independent fact-checkers and technology platforms to address foreign information manipulation and disinformation.
Mignot described the misuse of artificial intelligence and foreign interference in information systems as growing threats to democratic processes.
He noted that although AI offered opportunities to improve communication, translation and accessibility, it also made deceptive content easier to produce and more difficult to detect.
He identified three priorities for safeguarding electoral information integrity: preparing institutions ahead of elections, strengthening local and international partnerships, and protecting democratic rights while tackling information manipulation.
The EU ambassador cautioned against using the fight against disinformation to suppress criticism, silence journalists or restrict legitimate political disagreements.
He also raised concerns about the growing use of impersonation and coordinated online abuse to target women, urging stakeholders to ensure that efforts to protect electoral information did not undermine fundamental freedoms.
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