Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has warned that the unchecked use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the growing threat of digital manipulation could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections unless appropriate safeguards are urgently introduced.
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Jega called on electoral authorities and other stakeholders to establish effective mechanisms for detecting, verifying and responding to false information, including the use of AI-powered tools that would enable voters to access authentic electoral information.
The former INEC Chairman spoke on Monday, November 2, 2026, in Abuja while chairing the National Summit on Artificial Intelligence, Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), and Electoral Information Integrity.
The summit, themed “Beyond the Ballot: Safeguarding Electoral Information Integrity in the Age of AI,” brought together electoral officials, policymakers, media organisations, technology experts and civil society representatives to examine emerging threats to the credibility of the electoral process.
Jega acknowledged that artificial intelligence offered opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness in governance and election management but cautioned that its misuse could compromise democratic institutions and undermine public confidence in electoral outcomes.
He maintained that protecting electoral information against digital manipulation, misinformation and malicious interference had become an important responsibility requiring the collective efforts of electoral institutions and other stakeholders.
According to him, the increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence means that electoral management bodies must develop strategies to identify potential threats before they cause widespread damage to public trust.
“What is most important, of course, is how we prepare, anticipate these challenges and take appropriate measures, including setting up a framework of rapid response to address these,” Jega said.
He explained that safeguarding elections in the digital age required more than identifying the dangers associated with emerging technologies.
The former INEC Chairman stressed the need to develop practical systems capable of providing accurate electoral information, identifying misleading claims and responding promptly to coordinated disinformation campaigns.
Drawing from his participation in the 2024 Cambridge Conference on Electoral Democracy, Jega recommended that electoral management bodies across Africa consider deploying artificial intelligence-powered chatbots supported by officially verified data.
He explained that such platforms could enable voters to obtain reliable information about election procedures and verify the authenticity of announcements circulating through social media and other digital channels.
According to him, some African electoral management bodies had already recognised the usefulness of AI-driven information systems in reducing the spread and impact of election-related misinformation.
“I understand that some African EMBs have seen the utility of this in checkmating or reducing the negative effects and the impact of misinformation and disinformation during elections.
“And I would like to recommend that if INEC has not done so so far, it might be a useful issue to add to our discussions and to see as to how best to know it before the 2027 general elections,” he stated.
Jega maintained that the deployment of verified information platforms would help citizens distinguish genuine electoral announcements from fabricated content and reduce confusion during sensitive stages of the electoral process.
He emphasised that the credibility of elections depended not only on the conduct of voting and the declaration of results but also on the confidence citizens placed in the institutions responsible for administering elections.
“The integrity of an election is so important and the building trust and ensuring that there is public confidence in what participants in the electoral process do, and other key stakeholders do, is very important,” he said.
The former INEC Chairman urged participants at the summit to move beyond discussions and develop actionable strategies, rapid-response frameworks and practical solutions that would strengthen the protection of electoral information ahead of the 2027 polls.
He stressed that the growing use of AI required institutions to anticipate new methods of manipulation while also exploring the positive applications of technology in election management.
Also speaking at the summit, the current INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, warned that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the physical security of polling units but also on the authenticity of information available to voters.
Amupitan explained that disinformation could undermine public confidence in elections long before the first ballot was cast, particularly where false claims were deliberately circulated to create confusion and distrust.
He identified synthetic content, manipulated videos, cloned voices and coordinated digital campaigns as emerging threats that electoral management bodies must address.
According to him, advances in generative AI had made it easier for malicious actors to produce convincing but false information capable of deceiving voters and interfering with election administration.
The INEC Chairman warned that simply informing Nigerians about the existence of deepfakes or encouraging them to exercise caution when consuming online information would no longer be sufficient.
“As we prepare for the 2027 general elections, the undeniable truth that we must confront is that public awareness alone is no longer an adequate defence against synthetic content and digital manipulation,” Amupitan said.
He explained that organised disinformation campaigns could exploit technological advancements to impersonate public officials, fabricate announcements and influence public perceptions of the electoral process.
“Informing citizens that deep-fakes exist or urging caution when consuming online news is useful, but it is insufficient against well-coordinated, highly funded and hyper-targetted information operations designed to erode public trust in election administration,” he stated.
Amupitan consequently called for the establishment of a coordinated national response mechanism involving electoral authorities, security agencies, independent fact-checkers, media organisations and technology platforms.
He maintained that such a framework must respect fundamental rights while enabling institutions to identify, verify and respond to threats against electoral information.
“What Nigeria urgently requires is a trusted, coordinated and rights-respecting operational ecosystem,” he declared.
The INEC Chairman explained that the proposed arrangement should provide an institutional structure through which relevant stakeholders could anticipate emerging threats, verify evidence, communicate accurate information and respond promptly to incidents of digital manipulation.
He also stressed the need for effective communication among public authorities, security institutions, independent fact-checkers and media networks.
According to him, the response framework should incorporate mechanisms for documenting incidents and drawing lessons from previous attempts to manipulate electoral information.
Amupitan maintained that such cooperation would help strengthen public confidence and ensure that voters could make informed decisions based on credible information.
The concerns raised by both Jega and Amupitan come as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections amid the growing use of artificial intelligence in political communication and public information dissemination.
The increasing accessibility of digital tools capable of producing realistic audio, photographs and videos has raised questions about how electoral authorities can distinguish genuine information from fabricated content.
The two electoral administrators, however, emphasised that the appropriate response was not to reject technological innovation but to develop safeguards that would prevent its misuse while maximising its benefits.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said protecting the integrity of the 2027 elections was a shared responsibility requiring the participation of government institutions, journalists, political parties, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens.
Idris, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), Dr Dili Ezughah, stated this while declaring the summit open.
He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu recognised the importance of a credible information environment in strengthening democratic governance and national stability.
The minister referred to Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, published in 2024, which provides a framework for the responsible, ethical and inclusive development and deployment of AI.
He explained that the strategy reflected the government’s recognition of the opportunities and risks associated with emerging technologies.
Idris also cited the establishment of the UNESCO Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen media literacy and improve the ability of citizens to identify credible information.
“A significant demonstration of this commitment is the establishment of the UNESCO Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Nigeria,” he stated.
The minister further referred to the Electoral Act 2026, signed into law by President Tinubu on February 18, 2026.
According to him, the amended legislation provided for mandatory electronic transmission of polling unit results and recognised INEC’s results-viewing portal as part of the electoral process.
However, Idris maintained that technological reforms alone could not guarantee credible elections without the active participation of institutions and citizens.
He argued that electoral authorities must communicate clearly and consistently, while journalists must verify information before publication.
The minister also stressed that citizens should know where to obtain authentic electoral information, particularly during periods when fabricated announcements and misleading claims might circulate widely.
“Electoral institutions must communicate clearly. Journalists must verify information and citizens must know where to obtain authentic electoral updates,” he said.
Idris further emphasised that measures introduced to combat misinformation must not undermine press freedom or prevent journalists from holding public institutions accountable.
He maintained that responsible journalism should not be confused with reporting that favours the government or any political interest.
“I wish to emphasise that responsible journalism must not be mistaken for favourable journalism. The media must remain free to question government, political parties, candidates and public institutions, ensuring fairness and fair distinction between facts, allegations and opinions,” he stated.
The minister also cautioned against responses to misinformation that could violate constitutional rights or restrict legitimate public debate.
“We must also protect freedom of expression and the right to information. Responses to misinformation must be lawful, proportionate and respectful of fundamental rights,” he said.
He stressed that technology platforms, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations and fact-checkers must recognise their responsibilities in protecting the integrity of electoral information.
Idris subsequently urged participants to develop practical commitments that could be implemented before the 2027 general elections.
These, he said, should include stronger verification systems, rapid channels for correcting false information, coordinated responses to information threats and sustained public education.
The minister maintained that effective cooperation among relevant institutions would help reduce the spread of misleading electoral information and strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.
The summit’s discussions underscored growing concerns that artificial intelligence could be deployed to manipulate political communication, impersonate electoral officials and circulate fabricated information concerning voting procedures and election results.
However, participants also acknowledged the potential benefits of AI in improving election administration, public communication and access to reliable information.
Jega’s recommendation for officially verified AI-powered information tools and Amupitan’s call for a coordinated, rights-respecting response framework highlight the need to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness against digital threats before the elections.
Both former and current INEC chairmen maintained that protecting electoral integrity required proactive measures capable of addressing misinformation before it undermined public trust.
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