2027: INEC deploys AI to detect errors, fake results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to detect discrepancies and administrative errors in election results before their final validation.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this yesterday at the 24th All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu, warning that AI-generated disinformation could also threaten public confidence in the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan said the commission had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department and developed an AI Roadmap and Governance Framework based on human oversight, transparency, accountability, data protection and cybersecurity.

“We have commenced deploying intelligent AI tools directly within our results management process. This technology automatically scans and detects discrepancies or administrative errors in result records before final validation,” he said.

The INEC chairman stressed that AI would not replace human officials, saying every automated result check would remain subject to human auditing and legal verification.

“Technology must complement, rather than replace constitutional institutions. AI must strengthen electoral integrity, improve public service, and always remain under human control,” he said.

Amupitan said INEC was also strengthening its defences against AI-generated fake result sheets, cloned voices of electoral officials, fabricated videos and forged official documents.

He disclosed that the commission had engaged senior executives of Microsoft and Google on cybersecurity resilience, cloud infrastructure protection and threat mitigation, while discussions with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems focused on technical capacity building and responsible AI integration.

According to him, synthetic disinformation could cause Nigerians to lose confidence even in genuine election results.

“The primary danger of synthetic disinformation is not merely that it tricks citizens into believing a specific falsehood, but it causes the systemic destruction of public trust,” he said.

Amupitan listed possible threats ahead of the 2027 elections as fake videos of electoral officials announcing results, cloned audio recordings allegedly directing manipulation of voting devices, forged letters announcing election postponements and manipulated result sheets.

He said the challenge would be greater in 2027 because the elections would take place across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Osun was a single-state exercise, 2027 will be across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.

Amupitan said the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would take place on February 6.

He urged the media to make verification central to election reporting and resist the pressure to publish unverified claims simply because they were trending online.

“The pressure on modern newsrooms to be first is immense. But in national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first,” he said.

He also urged media organisations to establish fact-checking desks and adopt deepfake detection software, digital verification tools and forensic image analysis ahead of the elections.