INEC Chairman Amupitan Advocates AI in Elections

Prof. Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defended the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in election management, asserting that it does not pose a threat to democracy. Speaking at The Beyond the Ballot Summit in Abuja, he highlighted AI's potential to enhance electoral administration through improved voter registration, logistics planning, data analysis, and management of large voter databases.

However, he raised concerns about the misuse of generative AI, which can create deceptive content that undermines public confidence in elections. Amupitan noted that the accessibility of generative AI tools could enable malicious actors to manipulate voters and spread disinformation.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election, INEC plans to integrate AI into its electoral system while ensuring that it enhances the credibility, transparency, and efficiency of the electoral process. The controversy surrounding AI intensified after AI-generated photographs were found in INEC's preliminary Register of Voters, raising questions about the integrity of the voter database.