The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has defended the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s electoral system, insisting that the technology does not pose a threat to democracy despite the possibility of abuse.
Amupitan said AI could enhance election management through improved voter registration, logistics planning, data analysis and efficient management of large voter databases.
He made the remarks on Monday at The Beyond the Ballot Summit in Abuja, where he noted that electoral management bodies across the world were increasingly embracing AI-assisted processes to improve administrative efficiency and election planning.
He said, “Artificial Intelligence, AI, is not an enemy of democracy.”
However, the INEC chairman raised concerns about the growing accessibility of generative AI tools, warning that malicious individuals could exploit them to manipulate voters and spread misleading information.
He explained that advanced technology had made it easier and cheaper to clone the voices of public figures and create realistic but fabricated videos of electoral officials making false announcements.
Amupitan’s comments come as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission announcing plans to incorporate AI into Nigeria’s electoral processes.
The proposed adoption has also raised concerns about the possible spread of fabricated announcements, manipulated audio recordings and deceptive videos capable of misleading voters and undermining confidence in elections.
These concerns were heightened following the discovery of suspicious photographs, suspected to be AI-generated, in INEC’s preliminary Register of Voters in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
The questionable images sparked concerns about the credibility of the voter database and the procedures used during voter registration.
INEC subsequently acknowledged the irregularities and announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the photographs.
The commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, attributed some of the questionable images to alleged irregularities involving registration officers with access to the system.
INEC maintained that the register was still preliminary and would undergo verification, data cleaning and necessary corrections before the final version was certified.
The commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the adoption of AI strengthens the transparency, credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.