The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has declared that artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms will not determine the outcome of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
He stressed that the power to elect political leaders rests solely with Nigerians through their votes.
Amupitan made this known on Wednesday at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, organised jointly by INEC and Yiaga Africa under the theme, “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
According to him, although artificial intelligence can improve electoral administration, technology must remain a tool for enhancing efficiency, transparency and accountability rather than replacing human judgment.
“AI must remain servant, not master, of Nigerian democracy,” the INEC chairman said.
He maintained that algorithms might analyse voting patterns, improve logistics and predict trends, but they could neither replace voters nor determine who governs the country.
Amupitan noted that artificial intelligence would significantly influence the information environment ahead of the 2027 elections, affecting how citizens make political decisions and how electoral officials manage logistics and security.
He also warned that the technology could be exploited by both democratic and anti-democratic actors to influence electoral processes.
The INEC chairman described the 2027 general elections as one of the largest and most complex democratic exercises in Africa, involving more than 103 million registered voters, 176,846 polling units and 774 local government areas.
He disclosed that the commission had completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones stipulated under the Electoral Act 2026.
According to him, INEC has also procured additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, digitised candidate nominations through its INEC Candidates Nomination Portal and processed more than 15,000 nominations submitted by 22 political parties.
He further highlighted the commission’s introduction of online voter registration as part of efforts to improve electoral administration.
Amupitan identified several areas where artificial intelligence could support the electoral process, including logistics planning, auditing election results, maintaining biometric databases, communicating with voters in different languages and strengthening cybersecurity.
However, he emphasised that critical electoral decisions would remain under human control.
He said voter accreditation, result collation and the determination of candidates’ qualifications would not be left entirely to automated systems.
The INEC chairman added that human accountability, legal oversight and judicial review would remain central to every stage of the electoral process.
The forum attracted electoral officials from Nigeria and other African countries, diplomatic representatives, political party leaders, civil society organisations, media executives, security agencies, technology companies and international development partners.
The discussions focused on the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents for protecting electoral integrity and strengthening democratic institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
