ABUJA, Nigeria: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to strengthen election result verification and protect its systems against cyberattacks ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, during a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja held as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
Amupitan revealed that the commission has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department.
According to him, automated AI auditing tools have already been integrated into INEC’s results verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework.
The chairman stressed that the technology would operate under mandatory human oversight, meaning AI would assist election officials but would not independently make electoral decisions.
“Automated AI auditing tools have been integrated into our results verification process, under a five-pillar AI governance framework, operating under mandatory human oversight,” Amupitan said.
INEC is also working with international technology companies and other partners to deploy AI-powered anomaly detection tools capable of monitoring database traffic and helping protect the commission’s systems from cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.
The commission said its AI governance policy is currently being finalised.
AI to help detect election anomalies
The planned deployment is expected to help INEC identify unusual patterns and possible discrepancies in election result records.
The initiative builds on INEC’s broader adoption of technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Amupitan previously disclosed that the commission had commenced the use of AI tools to identify discrepancies in election result records, while emphasising that human officials would remain responsible for electoral decisions.
INEC’s current election guidelines also provide for the electronic transmission and collation of results, including the scanning and uploading of polling-unit result sheets through the IReV platform.
Deepfakes and election misinformation
The INEC chairman also warned about the growing threat posed by generative AI, voice cloning and deepfake videos during elections.
He said fabricated videos, voices, result sheets and other official-looking documents could be used to mislead voters and undermine confidence in genuine information released by electoral authorities.
The commission plans to combine technological safeguards with public education and collaboration with the media to combat election-related misinformation.
Amupitan also urged journalists and media organisations to verify election information carefully and avoid publishing privately collated results or premature declarations, stressing that the legal authority to declare election results rests with INEC.
INEC prepares for 2027 polls
The AI initiative forms part of a wider programme of technological and operational preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC said it is upgrading its election technology, conducting nationwide audits and stress tests and preparing for a nationwide mock accreditation exercise.
The commission is also planning a situation room to provide real-time monitoring before, during and after the elections, while election personnel will undergo additional training and technical support programmes.
INEC’s official website currently lists January 16, 2027 as the date for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The commission has said its objective is to use AI and other technologies to reduce human error, detect anomalies and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, while ensuring that human oversight remains central to decision-making.
