The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said artificial intelligence will not determine the outcome of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, stressing that the power to choose the country’s leaders rests with voters.
Amupitan made this known on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the AI and Democracy Forum 2026, themed “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
He said although AI could influence the information available to voters and the management of electoral activities, it must not replace human judgment or democratic processes.
“Algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 vote,” Amupitan said, adding that the choice of who leads Nigeria belongs exclusively to the people.
The INEC chairman noted that AI could help improve election logistics, identify duplicate biometric records, detect irregularities and strengthen cybersecurity.
However, he stressed that the technology must serve as a tool to support democracy rather than undermine it.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established an AI unit within its Information and Communication Technology department and was developing a framework to guide the use of the technology during elections.
He said the framework would be guided by principles including transparency, integrity, human oversight and public accountability.
The chairman also warned that AI could be exploited to spread misleading information and interfere with the electoral process, urging stakeholders to ensure its responsible use ahead of the 2027 polls.
He maintained that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections, noting that human accountability and compliance with established electoral procedures remained essential.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are slated for February 6.
