INEC Rejects AI for Nigeria's 2027 Election Decisions

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly stated that artificial intelligence will not be permitted to decide the outcome of Nigeria's 2027 general election. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, emphasized the importance of human judgment in critical electoral decisions during the AI and Democracy Forum 2026 held in Abuja.

He asserted that the authority to shape Nigeria's political future lies with its citizens and that no significant electoral decision, including voter accreditation, result collation, or candidate qualification, will be left solely to automated systems. The forum, which took place from October 14 to 16, was co-hosted by INEC, Yiaga Africa, the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, and Dataphyte Foundation.

Discussions included the risks posed by AI-generated misinformation and the need for robust cybersecurity measures. INEC plans to establish an election-specific AI governance framework and proposed the creation of an Electoral Information Integrity Coalition to enhance election integrity.