INEC Chairman: AI Won't Displace Voters' Power in 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has firmly declared that computer algorithms will not be the deciding factor in the 2027 general elections. Instead, he stressed that the power to choose Nigeria's leaders rests solely with the electorate. Prof. Amupitan made this assertion on Wednesday during the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026, held in Abuja, which focused on "Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence."

While acknowledging the potential for artificial intelligence to influence electoral administration and the flow of information to voters, the INEC boss issued a caution. He insisted that this advanced technology must always remain subservient to human judgment and established democratic institutions. "Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote," he stated unequivocally, adding, "The choice of who leads Nigeria belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people. Algorithms may predict patterns; they may optimise routes, and they may even suggest preferences. But they do not have a conscience, they do not have a country, and they do not have a vote."

Despite this stance, the chairman conceded that AI would significantly shape the broader electoral landscape. This influence, he noted, would extend to how information circulates, the efficiency and security of election logistics, and the strategies employed by both democratic participants and those seeking to disrupt the process. "While algorithms will not decide the vote, AI will undeniably shape the information environment in which citizens form their choices, influence the speed and security of electoral logistics, and alter the tactics of both democratic actors and anti-democratic disruptors," Amupitan explained.

The forum, a collaborative effort between INEC and Yiaga Africa, gathered a diverse group of stakeholders. These included electoral officials, leaders of political parties, civil society organizations, media executives, security agencies, technology firms, and international development partners.

Prof. Amupitan characterized the upcoming 2027 elections as the largest democratic exercise across the African continent. He detailed that INEC is preparing to conduct polls for over 103 million registered voters spread across 176,846 polling units within Nigeria's 774 local government areas. The elections will encompass multiple ballots, covering presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state Houses of Assembly contests.

He further revealed that INEC has already completed ten out of the fourteen major operational milestones outlined in the Electoral Act 2026. Among the commission's proactive steps, Amupitan highlighted the acquisition of additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices. He also mentioned the successful digitization of candidate nominations via the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal, which has processed more than 15,000 nominations from 22 political parties. The introduction of online voter registration was also cited as a key initiative aimed at enhancing electoral administration.

Discussing the potential advantages of AI, the INEC chairman noted that the technology could significantly improve logistics and route planning, aid in auditing election results, strengthen biometric database management, facilitate voter engagement in various languages, and bolster cybersecurity measures. However, he maintained that the commission would never delegate crucial electoral decisions to automated systems.

"No critical electoral decision, result collation, voter accreditation, or candidate qualification will ever be fully automated or delegated to an autonomous system," Amupitan affirmed. He emphasized that "Human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain."

Amupitan also identified several AI-driven threats that could compromise the integrity of the 2027 elections. These include generative AI, deepfakes, synthetic media, highly targeted political advertising, algorithmic bias, and automated cyberattacks. He cautioned that the widespread dissemination of fabricated audio, videos, and images could mislead the electorate and erode public trust in authentic electoral information.

The chairman issued a stark warning: "The greatest threat we face is not the hacking of a ballot box, but the hacking of the voter’s mind. If a voter cannot distinguish between truth and a synthetic lie, the foundation of informed consent crumbles."

According to a report by The PUNCH, INEC had previously announced its intentions to deploy AI-powered tools to identify anomalies in election results and combat disinformation in anticipation of the 2027 polls. During a world press conference held on October 6, the commission disclosed the establishment of a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology Directorate. This division has already integrated automated AI auditing tools into its results verification procedures. The commission indicated that this initiative would operate under a five-pillar AI governance framework, mandating human oversight, while its comprehensive AI governance policy is currently being finalized.

At Wednesday’s forum, Amupitan elaborated that INEC's AI unit is fully equipped with advanced digital monitoring tools, specialized deepfake detection software, and robust data analytics capabilities. These resources are designed to track technical threats and any attempts to manipulate electoral information.