By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled digital safeguards to counter artificial intelligence (AI)-driven electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections, while clarifying the legal basis for excluding some political parties’ candidates from the final list for governorship elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed the Commission’s measures against digital threats on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in Abuja, while delivering the keynote address at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026, organised in collaboration with Yiaga Africa.
Amupitan said INEC had established an AI Unit within its Information and Communication Technology Directorate, equipped with real-time digital monitoring tools, deepfake detection software and data analytics capabilities to identify threats and attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
Speaking on the theme, “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” the INEC chairman warned that AI-generated misinformation, fabricated videos and cloned audio recordings could mislead voters, impersonate election officials and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He insisted that technology would not be allowed to determine the outcome of the 2027 elections, stressing that the choice of Nigeria’s leaders remained the responsibility of the electorate.
“Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote,” he declared.
The chairman identified the manipulation of voters through false digital content as a major threat, warning that malicious actors could circulate fabricated announcements about candidate withdrawals, election postponements and voting procedures.
He disclosed that the Commission was developing a digital strategy to monitor the information environment and collaborating with technology platforms to facilitate the rapid identification, labelling and debunking of AI-generated content relating to elections.
Amupitan also assured Nigerians that no critical electoral decision, including voter accreditation, result collation and candidate qualification, would be fully automated or delegated to autonomous systems.
“Human accountability, statutory oversight and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain,” he said.
He explained that AI could also improve election administration through geospatial analysis, logistics planning, biometric identification and cybersecurity, adding that the Commission would subject its AI tools to rigorous audits to ensure fairness, transparency and security.
The INEC chairman called on technology companies, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies and media practitioners to collaborate with the Commission in tackling digital misinformation and protecting the credibility of the 2027 elections.
In a related development, INEC has clarified that the exclusion of some candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections followed a Supreme Court judgment affirming the mandatory requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Commission applied the apex court’s decision when finalising the list of governorship candidates.
Haruna recalled that the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party, Appeal No. SC/CV/495/2026, on September 24, 2026, following an appeal against a Court of Appeal judgment that had nullified Section 77(5)–(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
According to him, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality and mandatory nature of the provisions, which require political parties to submit their membership registers as a prerequisite for conducting valid party primaries.
The court also upheld Item No. 2 of INEC’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities, which required political parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.
Haruna said the Supreme Court further ruled that political parties that failed to comply with the statutory requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the election.
He explained that INEC consequently excluded parties that did not comply with the provisions when compiling the final list of governorship candidates.
The national commissioner said the Commission acted in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires compliance with decisions of the Supreme Court.
He clarified, however, that the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, thirteen days before the apex court delivered its judgment.
Haruna also reminded political parties that Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, allows a party that believes its candidate was wrongly omitted from the list to notify the Commission within 14 days of publication.
He said the deadline for such notifications was October 24, 2026.
The commissioner reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.
