By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified efforts to strengthen its communication strategy ahead of the 2027 General Elections, with particular focus on tackling the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven misinformation and disinformation.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mal. Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a capacity-building workshop for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) drawn from across the states.
Haruna said the growing sophistication of generative artificial intelligence had made the production of manipulated audio, video and images cheaper and considerably more difficult to detect, creating new challenges for election communication.
He warned that the misuse of AI also extended to highly targeted messaging capable of feeding conflicting narratives to different groups of voters, describing the threat as “no longer a distant, theoretical risk” to the Commission.
According to him, the evolving information environment makes it imperative for INEC to strengthen the capacity of its communication officers to verify information, identify emerging narratives and provide clear and consistent information to the public.
Haruna said the workshop, themed “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” was designed to address these challenges and improve the effectiveness of INEC’s communication at the state level.
He described Public Affairs Officers as “the frontline communicators of INEC in the states,” noting that the credibility of the Commission’s communication “in many respects, begins with the work you do.”
The National Commissioner said the skills being developed through the training, particularly in verification, escalation and clear messaging, would be tested in real time as the 2027 elections approach.
He also commended the Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) Department for designing a programme he described as practical, skills-based and directly relevant to the realities confronting PAOs in the states.
Haruna further cited the recent position of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, who, at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, stressed that election credibility depended not only on ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets, but also on the information environment in which voters form their judgments.
He said Amupitan had consequently called for electoral technology and electoral communication to be treated “not as separate concerns but as a single discipline.”
In her welcome remarks, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, said the PAOs had a critical role in shaping public understanding of the Commission and its activities.
“It is through you that Nigerians form much of their impression of who we are, what we stand for, and how reliable our information is,” she said.
Eta-Messi said INEC operated under constant public scrutiny and was regularly confronted with attempts to misrepresent its activities and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
She disclosed that the training was not a one-off engagement, noting that further capacity-building interventions were at an advanced stage of planning with support from development partners.
The Director described the workshop as “the beginning of sustained engagement” to ensure that PAOs were adequately prepared for their responsibilities.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Information and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said the training was aimed at strengthening the practical communication skills required by PAOs in their day-to-day duties and ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ifogah said the objectives included clarifying escalation lines between PAOs, Heads of Department, the VEP Department and Resident Electoral Commissioners; strengthening consistency in press statements, talking points and social media communication; and improving the officers’ capacity to monitor the information ecosystem and respond to misinformation and disinformation.
He said the programme would also introduce participants to “the responsible use of artificial intelligence in communication work,” including its practical applications, limitations and safeguards around confidentiality and verification.
Ifogah said participants were expected to complete the workshop with a shared appreciation of the standards of accuracy, consistency and professionalism required of INEC Public Affairs Officers as preparations for the 2027 General Elections gather momentum.
