The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said algorithms and Artificial Intelligence will not decide the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan said the decision on who governs Nigeria belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people.
The INEC Chairman stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026, themed “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The forum was co-convened by INEC and Yiaga Africa.
He stressed that technology must remain a tool to support democracy, not replace it.
“Algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 vote. The choice of who leads Nigeria belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people. Algorithms may predict patterns; they may optimise routes, and they may even suggest preferences. But they do not have a conscience, they do not have a country, and they do not have a vote,” Amupitan said.
He noted that the 2027 general elections will be one of Africa’s largest democratic exercises, involving over 103 million registered voters across 176,846 polling units in 774 local government areas.
Amupitan acknowledged that AI will shape the electoral environment, particularly in information dissemination, logistics and campaign tactics, but warned of its risks including deepfakes, disinformation and cyber-attacks.
He said the Commission has established a specialised AI Unit within its ICT Directorate to monitor digital threats and safeguard the integrity of the elections.
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