INEC Deploys AI to Verify Election Results, Combat Fake News Ahead of 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology Department as part of efforts to strengthen election results verification and combat disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting an update on the Commission’s preparations for the elections.

According to Amupitan, automated AI auditing tools have already been integrated into the Commission’s results verification process to detect anomalies and improve the integrity of electoral data.

He said the technology would operate under a five-pillar AI governance framework with mandatory human oversight, while the Commission’s AI governance policy is being finalised.

Amupitan also raised concerns over the growing use of generative AI, voice cloning and deepfakes to fabricate election officials’ voices, result sheets and other official documents.

He urged journalists and media organisations to deploy digital forensic tools and thoroughly verify election-related information before publication.

The INEC chairman further warned against the publication of privately collated results or premature declarations, stressing that the statutory authority to declare election results rests exclusively with the Commission.

Beyond its AI initiative, INEC said it was upgrading its election technology, including its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, conducting nationwide audits and stress tests, and preparing for a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November.