INEC Chairman: AI Will Not Determine Nigeria's 2027 Elections

• INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan affirmed that algorithms will not decide the 2027 Nigerian elections, emphasizing voter supremacy.
• He stated that human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount in all electoral processes.
• INEC has completed 10 of 14 major operational milestones under the Electoral Act 2026, including digitizing nominations and procuring BVAS devices.
• AI is expected to influence the information environment and logistics, but critical decisions like result collation will not be automated.
• Threats such as deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and automated cyberattacks were identified as challenges to the 2027 elections.

Human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain.

The Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), recently affirmed that algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, Professor Amupitan emphasized that the ultimate decision regarding Nigeria's leadership rests exclusively with its citizens, not automated systems. The forum, themed "Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," served as a platform for INEC to articulate its position on the evolving role of technology in democratic processes.

While acknowledging the profound impact artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to have on the electoral landscape, Professor Amupitan stressed that this technology must always remain subservient to human judgment and established democratic institutions. He clarified that although algorithms possess capabilities for predicting patterns, optimizing logistics, or suggesting preferences, they inherently lack conscience, national allegiance, or the right to vote. This foundational principle underscores INEC's commitment to preserving the human element at the core of Nigeria's electoral system for the 2027 elections.

Professor Amupitan further elaborated that AI will undoubtedly influence the information environment where voters make their choices, accelerate and secure electoral logistics, and modify the strategies employed by both democratic participants and those seeking to disrupt the process. However, he maintained a firm stance that no critical electoral decision, including result collation, voter accreditation, or candidate qualification, would ever be fully automated or delegated to an autonomous system. This ensures that the integrity of the electoral process remains under human control and oversight.

The 2027 general elections are poised to be the largest democratic exercise on the African continent, with INEC preparing to conduct polls for over 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in 774 local government areas. These elections will encompass multiple ballots for presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state Houses of Assembly contests, highlighting the immense logistical and administrative undertaking.

In preparation for this monumental task, INEC has already completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones outlined under the Electoral Act 2026 Nigeria. Significant progress includes the procurement of additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, which are crucial for voter authentication. The commission has also digitized candidate nominations through its INEC Candidates Nomination Portal, successfully processing more than 15,000 nominations from 22 political parties. Furthermore, the introduction of online voter registration stands as another key initiative aimed at enhancing electoral administration and accessibility for citizens.

Despite the potential for artificial intelligence to improve various aspects of election management, such as logistics and route planning, auditing election results, enhancing biometric database management, facilitating voter engagement in multiple languages, and strengthening cybersecurity, INEC remains resolute in its commitment to human oversight. Professor Amupitan explicitly stated that the commission would not cede critical electoral decisions to automated systems, reinforcing the principle that human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain.

This commitment means that traditional legal avenues for challenging or defending electoral processes, guided by the Electoral Act 2026, will not be superseded by automated systems, providing clarity for legal professionals advising clients on electoral disputes or compliance. The INEC chairman also highlighted several threats posed by AI to the credibility of the 2027 elections, including generative AI, deepfakes, synthetic media, targeted political advertising, algorithmic bias, and automated cyberattacks. These concerns underscore the importance of the ongoing human vigilance and legal frameworks that INEC intends to uphold, ensuring that the integrity of Nigeria's elections is protected against technological manipulation.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that despite the increasing influence of AI in electoral environments, INEC maintains that human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount for the 2027 elections. This reinforces that traditional legal avenues for challenging or defending electoral processes, guided by the Electoral Act 2026, will not be superseded by automated systems, providing clarity for advising clients on electoral disputes or compliance.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH