2027 Elections: AI Not a Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy – Amupitan
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said artificial intelligence (AI) is not a threat to democracy, despite concerns over its potential misuse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan stated this on Monday while speaking at The Beyond the Ballot Summit in Abuja, where he highlighted the role of AI in improving election management.
According to the INEC chairman, AI is already being used by electoral management bodies worldwide to streamline voter registration, improve logistics planning, analyse data and enhance administrative efficiency.
“Artificial Intelligence, AI, is not an enemy of democracy,” he said.
However, Amupitan warned that the increasing accessibility of generative AI tools had made it easier for malicious actors to manipulate the electoral process.
He expressed concern over the use of AI to clone the voices of public figures and create realistic but false announcements attributed to election officials.
The INEC chairman said such tools could be exploited to spread misinformation and undermine public confidence in elections.
He stressed the need to address the risks associated with AI while harnessing its potential to improve electoral administration.
The remarks come as INEC prepares to integrate artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
