INEC Chairman Highlights Benefits of AI for Elections, Warns of Disinformation Risks

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, spoke on Monday about how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve Nigeria’s electoral process. He made these comments at The Beyond the Ballot Summit in Abuja, where he noted that AI should not be seen as a threat to democracy despite its potential for misuse.

Amupitan highlighted the benefits of AI in areas like voter registration, logistics planning, and data management. He pointed out that electoral bodies around the world are increasingly using AI to enhance efficiency and improve election planning. “Artificial Intelligence, AI, is not an enemy of democracy,” he stated.

However, he also warned about the risks associated with AI. The easy access to generative AI tools means that individuals can create misleading materials that could influence voters and hurt public trust in elections. He mentioned that technologies that once required advanced skills are now available to anyone, allowing for the creation of fake audio and video that could mislead the public.

These comments come as INEC prepares for the 2027 general election and considers using AI in its operations. Concerns have already arisen regarding questionable images found in the preliminary Register of Voters in Edo State. Some of these images are believed to have been generated by AI, raising doubts about the accuracy of the voter registration process.

INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, linked some of these issues to irregularities involving registration officers who had access to the commission’s systems. He assured that the preliminary register would undergo verification and corrections before being finalized.

As INEC moves forward with plans to integrate AI into its electoral processes, it faces the challenge of ensuring that the technology is used responsibly. While AI has the potential to streamline operations and improve data management, its misuse could lead to serious issues such as voter impersonation and the spread of false information.