The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established an Artificial Intelligence Division ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission is also integrating AI tools into its election results verification and cybersecurity systems. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja.
Amupitan spoke at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting. The event marked 100 days to the first ballot of the 2027 elections.
INEC Sets Up AI Division for 2027 Elections
Amupitan said INEC had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department. He said the commission was also integrating automated AI auditing tools into its results verification process.
According to him, the tools will operate under a five-pillar AI Governance Framework. He added that mandatory human oversight would guide the use of AI during the electoral process.
The INEC chairman also said the commission was finalising its AI governance policy. The policy will provide guidelines for deploying artificial intelligence across relevant electoral operations.
INEC is also introducing AI-driven anomaly detection tools. These tools will monitor database traffic and help protect public portals against cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.
The commission’s move comes as concerns grow over the impact of technology on elections. INEC had earlier faced questions over its proposed use of AI during the 2027 polls.
For more on the debate, read the report on [2027: Obidient Movement Questions INEC’s Proposed AI Deployment for Elections].
INEC Warns Against Deepfakes and AI Disinformation
Amupitan warned that generative AI, voice cloning and deepfake videos could threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections.
He said the technology could make it easier to fabricate the voices of election officials. It could also be used to create fake result sheets, letterheads and other electoral documents.
The INEC chairman urged media organisations to establish dedicated fact-checking desks. He also advised journalists to verify election-related information with the commission before publication.
Amupitan stressed that accuracy should take priority over speed during election coverage. He warned the media against publishing privately collated results.
The commission said it would combine technology with public education to counter election-related disinformation. It also plans to work with the media to help citizens identify manipulated content.
INEC Appeals for Release of Remaining Funds
The INEC chairman also appealed to the Federal Government to release the outstanding portion of the commission’s budget.
Amupitan said the funds were needed to complete preparations for the 2027 elections. He said the commission had already used released funds to meet vendor obligations and finance critical election technology.
The funds have also supported infrastructure upgrades and nationwide stakeholder operations. Amupitan acknowledged the Federal Government’s commitment to releasing statutory allocations to the commission.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, also called for adequate funding. He described INEC’s task of organising the elections as a major undertaking.
Mignot said the EU respects Nigeria’s sovereignty and would not support any candidate or political party. He also disclosed that the EU would deploy an expert electoral mission to monitor preparations, voting and the post-election period.
INEC to Deploy More Than 1.4 Million Ad Hoc Staff
INEC will require 707,384 ad hoc personnel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections. The elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The commission will require another 707,384 personnel for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. Those elections are scheduled for February 6, bringing the total engagements to 1,414,768.
The personnel will work across 176,846 polling units nationwide. The figure is higher than the approximately 1.2 million ad hoc workers deployed during the 2023 elections.
The bulk of the workforce will again come from the National Youth Service Corps. Amupitan said more than 70 per cent of the ad hoc staff used in 2023 were corps members and student volunteers.
The INEC recruitment portal opened on September 18. Applications are expected to remain open until midnight on November 18.
Readers seeking recruitment information can also see [How to Apply for INEC Ad Hoc Staff Recruitment: 2027 Polls].
Voters’ Register Reaches 103 Million
Amupitan disclosed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters now stands at 103 million.
He said the figure followed the registration of 10,772,421 new voters during three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The increase came after the completion of biometric verification.
INEC plans to display the voters’ register for public scrutiny from October 9. The exercise will allow voters to examine the register and raise relevant claims or objections.
The first phase of Permanent Voter Card distribution will also begin at local government centres on October 9. INEC has urged eligible voters to take advantage of the process.
The commission said 18 of the 22 registered political parties had submitted presidential candidates. It also disclosed that it received the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party.
The commission said it was reviewing the implications of the judgment. The development adds another legal dimension to preparations for the 2027 elections.
Stakeholders Seek Credible 2027 Elections
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, said lawmakers were monitoring INEC’s preparations.
Balogun said the committee had written to INEC concerning the Supreme Court judgment. He urged the commission to enforce the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Senate Committee on Electoral Matters Chairman Simon Lalong also called for collective responsibility. He said political parties, candidates, security agencies, the media, civil society groups and voters all have roles to play.
Meanwhile, the police said clearance operations were ongoing in several states. The operations cover Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba, where authorities are working to address security flashpoints.
The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, also commended INEC. However, he warned electoral officials against taking sides with political parties or candidates.
Dantalle further urged INEC to strengthen engagement with political parties before the elections. He said the election would end, but the country would remain and must be protected.
INEC Steps Up Election Preparations
The commission said its preparations have moved from planning into the execution phase. It said election materials are in production while technology is undergoing quality assurance.
INEC is also preparing its workforce through different training programmes. The commission plans to train ad hoc personnel and other stakeholders before the elections.
The commission has also scheduled a nationwide mock accreditation exercise. The exercise will test personnel, hardware and network systems under operational conditions.
INEC said the exercise forms part of wider measures to strengthen election technology. The commission is also working on cybersecurity and measures to counter disinformation.
With the first ballot now 100 days away, preparations for the 2027 elections have entered a critical phase. The use of artificial intelligence, funding, manpower and voter registration will remain key issues as INEC moves toward election day.
