Artificial intelligence is becoming a major talking point in Nigeria’s political space, and INEC is warning that the technology could create serious problems ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has warned that AI-generated videos, cloned voices, manipulated photographs and coordinated online campaigns could mislead voters and damage public confidence in the electoral process.
Speaking at a national summit on electoral information integrity, Amupitan explained that election manipulation was no longer limited to ballot boxes, polling units and physical electoral materials. The spread of false information online has become another challenge that authorities must confront.
His warning comes amid the recent controversy surrounding questionable voter registration records. INEC previously disclosed that its biometric screening system flagged suspicious entries, including records containing suspected AI-generated photographs.
The commission says protecting the 2027 elections will require cooperation between the media, technology companies, security agencies and civil society organisations.
For Nigerians, the message is clear: that shocking campaign video or voice recording circulating on WhatsApp may not be genuine.
As political campaigns intensify, voters will need to verify information before sharing it. The fight for credible elections may also become a fight against digital deception.
,
