ABUJA — As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has established a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division under its ICT Department, a strategic move to modernize electoral processes and curb AI-driven threats to democratic integrity.
The commission announced the development in a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee. The decision was taken during INEC’s weekly meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
“The creation of the AI Division is a proactive step toward leveraging the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks,” Olumekun said.
AI to Improve Elections, Fight Misinformation
According to INEC, the AI Division will support:
-
Data-Driven Decision Making
-
Fake News Detection & Content Verification
-
Voter Service Automation
-
Geo-Spatial Intelligence for Logistics
-
Predictive Analytics for Electoral Risk Management
The commission emphasized that the increasing global relevance of AI in electoral systems—both as a tool and a threat—necessitated the new division. INEC participated in several international conferences discussing AI’s impact on electoral credibility, misinformation, and cyber threats.
“This initiative positions INEC at the forefront of AI adoption in African electoral bodies,” the statement noted.
Centralized AI Governance and Election Reforms
The new AI Division will:
-
Centralize governance of AI initiatives
-
Maximize returns on existing tech investments
-
Enhance transparency and operational efficiency
-
Automate decision-making processes
-
Improve voter engagement through intelligent systems
This action forms part of broader reforms that fall within INEC’s administrative powers, requiring no legislative changes.
As part of its mandate, the AI Division is expected to play a key role in the 2027 general elections, ensuring a more secure, efficient, and transparent voting process through advanced technology.
