The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has declared that artificial intelligence and algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 General Elections.
Amupitan made the declaration at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, themed, “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
He said while AI could predict patterns, optimise logistics and influence the information environment, the power to choose Nigeria’s leaders belongs solely to the Nigerian people.
“Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote,” Amupitan said, stressing that technology must remain a tool for improving electoral administration rather than replacing human judgement.
The INEC Chairman said AI would significantly shape the 2027 electoral landscape, particularly through information manipulation, deepfakes, synthetic media, micro-targeting, dark advertising, algorithmic bias and cyberattacks.
He warned that the biggest danger was not necessarily the hacking of ballot boxes but the manipulation of voters through false or AI-generated information.
“The greatest threat we face is not the hacking of a ballot box, but the hacking of the voter’s mind,” he said.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established a specialised AI Unit within its ICT Directorate to monitor digital threats, detect deepfakes and analyse data linked to possible attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
He also said INEC would maintain a Human Oversight Principle, under which no critical electoral decision, result collation, voter accreditation or candidate qualification would be left entirely to an autonomous system.
According to him, INEC has already completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones required under the Electoral Act 2026, procured additional BVAS machines and digitised candidate nominations through its Candidates Nomination Portal.
The Commission is also introducing online voter registration for the first time.
Amupitan called on political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the judiciary, media organisations and technology companies to work together to protect the integrity of the 2027 elections.
He proposed an Electoral Information Integrity Coalition involving INEC, civil society groups, media organisations, fact-checkers and telecommunications operators to serve as an early-warning network against viral AI-generated misinformation.
The forum, co-convened by INEC and Yiaga Africa, was attended by electoral officials from Nigeria and other African countries, diplomats, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, media executives, technology companies and development partners.
Amupitan maintained that ultimately, the 2027 election would be decided by Nigerian voters, not machines.
“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,” he said.
