INEC to Deploy AI for Result Verification, Cybersecurity in 2027 — Amupitan

The Independent National Electoral Commission has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division as part of efforts to strengthen election result verification and cybersecurity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting organised as the country enters the final 100-day countdown to the elections.

Amupitan said automated AI auditing tools had already been integrated into the commission’s result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework.

He stressed that the technology would not operate independently, as all automated checks would remain subject to mandatory human oversight, auditing and legal verification.

According to the INEC chairman, the commission is also finalising an AI governance policy to guide the responsible deployment of artificial intelligence throughout the electoral process.

He said INEC was working with international technology partners to introduce AI-powered anomaly detection tools capable of monitoring database traffic and identifying suspicious activities.

The technology is expected to help protect INEC’s digital infrastructure and public portals against cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.

Amupitan said the commission’s approach was designed to ensure that artificial intelligence complements electoral institutions rather than replacing human officials.

The commission had earlier disclosed that it was developing an AI roadmap and governance framework based on human oversight, transparency and accountability, data protection, cybersecurity and public trust.

The INEC chairman also warned that artificial intelligence could be used by bad actors to produce convincing deepfakes, cloned voices, fake result sheets and fabricated official documents capable of misleading voters and undermining confidence in genuine election results.

He urged media organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen fact-checking and verify election-related information before publication.

Beyond AI deployment, INEC is preparing for nationwide mock accreditation and election simulation exercises to test its personnel, hardware and network systems ahead of the polls.

The commission has also acquired 57,000 additional BVAS devices and completed a major biometric clean-up of the voters’ register, which now contains more than 103 million registered voters.

Amupitan said the commission had moved from planning to execution and was focused on delivering an electoral process that would protect the integrity of the ballot and strengthen public confidence in the 2027 elections.