INEC Deploys AI Division to Strengthen Results Verification and Fight Election Disinformation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its Information and Communications Technology Department as part of efforts to strengthen election management and combat digital misinformation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, while presenting an update on the commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja. According to the chairman, automated AI auditing tools have already been incorporated into the commission’s results verification process.
Amupitan said the AI deployment would operate under a five pillar governance framework with mandatory human oversight. He added that INEC was finalizing its AI governance policy while working with international technology partners to integrate AI powered anomaly detection tools capable of identifying irregularities and monitoring potential threats to electoral systems.
The commission’s move comes amid growing concerns over the use of generative AI, voice cloning and deep fake technology to manufacture fake videos, audio recordings, result sheets and other documents that could be presented as genuine election information. INEC warned that the wider danger extends beyond individual false claims, as convincing synthetic content could undermine public confidence in legitimate information released by electoral authorities.
INEC stressed that artificial intelligence would support, rather than replace, human officials. Automated checks will remain subject to human auditing and legal verification, providing an additional layer of scrutiny in the results management process. The commission has also urged journalists and media organisations to strengthen digital verification practices and resist publishing unverified election related claims simply because they are trending online.
The commission further cautioned media organisations against publishing privately collated results or premature declarations, noting that the statutory responsibility for declaring election results rests with INEC. The warning comes as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections and concerns grow over the speed at which manipulated information can spread through social media and other digital platforms.
Beyond its AI initiative, INEC said it is upgrading its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), conducting nationwide audits and stress tests, and preparing for a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026. The commission also plans to establish a situation room for real time monitoring before, during and after the elections.