EU Warns of AI Threats to Nigeria's 2027 Elections

The European Union (EU) has issued a warning regarding the potential undermining of Nigeria's 2027 general elections through artificial intelligence-driven misinformation, even without altering physical ballots. This warning was articulated by the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, during the National Summit on Electoral Information Integrity held in Abuja.

Mignot stressed the necessity of safeguarding the electoral process from emerging digital threats and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at enhancing information integrity and media resilience. The summit, organized by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), gathered various stakeholders to devise strategies against digital manipulation.

Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noted that electoral threats have evolved beyond physical interference to sophisticated digital operations. He called for a collaborative approach among various sectors to combat misinformation while ensuring press freedom.

Former INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega and IPC Executive Director Lanre Arogundade also contributed to the discussions on the implications of AI in elections.