The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has renewed its warning over the growing threat posed by artificial intelligence-driven misinformation to Nigeria’s electoral process, saying the misuse of generative AI has become a real and immediate challenge as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The Commission said the technology has made it easier and cheaper to produce manipulated audio, video and images, while also enabling highly targeted messages that feed conflicting narratives to different groups of voters, a trend it warned could undermine public confidence in elections.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, raised the concern on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a capacity-building workshop for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) from across the country’s states.
Haruna described the threat as “no longer a distant, theoretical risk,” stressing that election credibility now extends beyond ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets to the quality of information available to voters.
He referenced recent remarks by Prof. Amupitan at the 13th Annual International Conference of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria, who argued that electoral technology and electoral communication should be treated as “a single discipline” because voters increasingly make decisions within a rapidly changing information environment.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” was described as part of INEC’s efforts to equip its communication officers with practical skills to counter misinformation and maintain public trust.
“Public Affairs Officers serve as the Commission’s frontline communicators in the states, making their ability to verify information, escalate issues promptly and deliver clear, consistent messages critical to safeguarding the integrity of election communication,” Haruna said.
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In her welcome address, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, reminded participants that Nigerians often judge the Commission through the information communicated by its spokespersons, noting that INEC operates under constant public scrutiny and frequently faces attempts to distort its activities.
She disclosed that additional capacity-building programmes, supported by development partners, were already being planned, describing the current workshop as the beginning of sustained engagement rather than a one-off exercise.
Presenting the workshop’s objectives, Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said participants would receive training on communication standards ahead of the 2027 elections, including strengthening writing skills for press statements and social media, improving coordination between Public Affairs Officers, Resident Electoral Commissioners and other departments, monitoring misinformation and disinformation, and promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence while observing strict confidentiality and verification procedures.
“INEC has repeatedly warned about the dangers of false information in the digital age, as advances in generative AI continue to increase the sophistication of deepfakes and other forms of manipulated content capable of influencing public perception during elections,” he recalled.
