morganable politics/elections
According to Amupitan, the credibility of elections in Nigeria now depends not only on the integrity of voting processes but also on how electoral information is communicated and understood by the public.
KaNo—
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised fresh concerns about the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
It also warned that the polls’ credibility could be undermined if urgent measures are not taken to address the challenge.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan (SAN), said the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence has made it easier to create and spread manipulated political content capable of misleading voters on a massive scale.
He stressed that electoral technology and communication must now be treated as a unified discipline to safeguard public trust in the democratic process.
Amupitan’s position was contained in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, following a keynote address delivered on his behalf by National Commissioner, Sani Adam (SAN), on Wednesday in Abuja.
The address was presented at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, themed “Media, Technology and Elections in Africa: Navigating Digital Disruption and the New Dynamics of Electoral Communication.”
INEC Disclose Ongoing Audit
Amid growing preparations for the 2027 polls, INEC disclosed that it is currently undertaking a comprehensive audit of its electoral technology systems, including system redundancy, penetration testing and disaster recovery plans.
The commission is also considering a mock presidential election to test its readiness under real election-day conditions.
According to Amupitan, the credibility of elections in Nigeria now depends not only on the integrity of voting processes but also on how electoral information is communicated and understood by the public.
“The credibility of the commission increasingly depends not only on the integrity of the ballot, the BVAS and result sheets, but also on how information about electoral processes is understood and trusted by voters,” he said.
These systems were designed to allow real-time verification of results and enhance confidence in the electoral process.
2023 Elections Revealed Innovative Limitations
However, Amupitan acknowledged that the 2023 general election revealed the limitations of these innovations when technical glitches occurred, leading to public skepticism.
He noted that electoral legitimacy could only be sustained when systems function reliably, are properly understood by citizens, and when shortcomings are openly acknowledged and addressed.
“Legitimacy is earned only when systems perform reliably, are well understood, and are explained honestly when they fall short,” he said.
Beyond technical performance, INEC expressed deep concern over the increasing sophistication of disinformation campaigns powered by artificial intelligence.
The chairman warned that synthetic audio, video, and images, often referred to as “deepfakes,” can now be produced cheaply and disseminated widely, making them difficult to detect.
He revealed that similar manipulated political content has already surfaced during recent electoral cycles across parts of West and East Africa, raising fears that Nigeria could face an even greater challenge in 2027.
According to him, the threat is not limited to outright fabrication of content but also includes algorithmic microtargeting, where tailored political messages are directed at specific groups of voters, sometimes presenting conflicting narratives without a shared factual basis.
“The danger lies not only in outright fabrication but also in algorithmic microtargeting, which allows conflicting messages to reach narrow segments of the electorate without a shared factual foundation,” he warned.
He added that such content could go viral and reach millions of users on social media before electoral authorities or fact-checking organisations are able to verify its authenticity.
INEC Reveals Five Strategies To Address Disinformation
To tackle these emerging risks, INEC outlined a five-point strategy aimed at strengthening its response to digital disinformation and improving electoral communication.
Other measures involve deepening collaboration with media professionals, fact-checkers, academic institutions and technology platforms, as well as investing in continuous public media literacy campaigns to help citizens identify and resist misleading content.
Amupitan stressed that the commission can no longer afford to treat technology and communication as separate components of election management, given their increasing interdependence in shaping public perception.
INEC Awaits Funds For 2027 Elections
Meanwhile, INEC disclosed that it is still awaiting the full release of funds for the 2027 elections, despite proposing a substantial budget that includes allocations for technology upgrades and election operations.
The chairman said part of the proposed funding would be used to procure new accreditation devices to replace those lost or damaged during the last electoral cycle.
Although the full budget has yet to be released, he noted that the commission’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) team has already initiated engagements with manufacturers in preparation for procurement.
He added that planning for the ongoing technology audit and the proposed mock presidential election is progressing alongside efforts to finalise the budget.
The planned mock election, according to INEC, will simulate real voting conditions to test the efficiency of voter accreditation, result transmission and the IReV platform. The exercise is expected to identify potential weaknesses and provide an opportunity for improvements before the actual polls.
Observers say the move signals a proactive approach by the commission to avoid a repeat of the challenges experienced in previous elections, particularly those related to technological failures and communication gaps.
Amupitan also used the opportunity to call on stakeholders including media practitioners, technology experts, scholars and civil society organisations to collaborate with INEC in strengthening public trust in the electoral process.
He emphasised that safeguarding the integrity of elections in the digital age requires a collective effort that goes beyond the electoral body alone.
“As we approach 2027, we must work together to ensure that citizens not only participate in elections but also have confidence in the information they receive about the process,” he said.
With less than a year to the general elections, analysts warn that the intersection of technology, information, and public perception will play a decisive role in determining the credibility of the outcome.
