Nigeria’s democratic future is under scrutiny as the country prepares for its 2027 general election, with a new wave of threats that extend beyond traditional concerns of vote‑buying and electoral violence. A two‑day summit, the Beyond the Ballot, National Summit on Electoral Information Integrity: AI, FIMI and the Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Election, was held in Abuja on 2‑3 November 2026 to examine how artificial intelligence, foreign information manipulation and disinformation could undermine voter confidence and the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The summit brought together electoral stakeholders, journalists, policymakers, technology experts, civil society organisations and development partners. It was convened by the International Press Centre (IPC), the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) and Development Assistance International (DAI) under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU‑SDGN) programme. Key voices included INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, former INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Gautier Mignot, IPC Executive Director Dr. Lanre Arogundade, Dr. Toyosi Akerele‑Ogunsiji, Ade Atobatele and INEC’s Dayo Oketola.
“The development has significantly changed the information environment in which elections are conducted. Previously, producing convincing fabricated political content required considerable technical expertise and resources. Today, AI‑powered tools have made it easier for individuals and organised groups to create realistic‑looking videos, images and audio recordings with relatively little technical knowledge,” said Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan.
“My worry is the liar’s dividend…,” said Dr. Toyosi Akerele‑Ogunsiji. “If a video genuinely captures an incident of electoral malpractice, those responsible could simply claim that the footage was generated using artificial intelligence. Similarly, an authentic audio recording exposing misconduct could be dismissed as a cloned voice, while fabricated evidence could be presented as genuine.”
Akerele‑Ogunsiji also highlighted Nigeria’s reliance on foreign AI technologies and the digital inequalities that could limit the country’s ability to respond to emerging threats. She warned that the speed and scale at which deepfakes can spread may generate anger, deepen divisions and influence public perception before institutions can react.
The discussions underscored a fundamental question: can Nigeria safeguard its 2027 elections from AI‑driven disinformation without first addressing the long‑standing transparency and accountability issues that erode public confidence in the electoral system? The summit’s participants agreed that protecting the credibility of the upcoming vote will require more than proper voting procedures; it will demand robust mechanisms to verify information, strengthen media literacy and build institutional resilience against manipulation.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
