INEC Creates AI Division to Enhance Electoral Activities

INEC Creates AI Division to Enhance Electoral Activities

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Electoral Commission (APC), has approved the creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enhance decision-making through data-driven insights, risk management and voter engagement in its electoral process.

This was disclosed on Thursday, in a statement signed by the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.

According to Olumekun, the decision was reached at the INEC’s regular weekly meeting held on Thursday.

Olumekun noted that the meeting considered the increasing relevance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to elections and electoral activities in Nigeria and across the world, thus the need to maximise its positive impact.

“Recently, the Commission attended several conferences with colleagues around the continent on the impact of AI on elections. These interactions were not only motivated by the concern over the use of AI to spread fake news or manipulate content online but also to utilise its benefits for data-driven decision-making, risk detection and mitigation, deepening voter services automation and geo-spatial intelligence in support of logistic optimisation for better material distribution and polling unit allocation.

“Consequently, the Commission approved the creation of an Artificial Intelligence Division under the ICT Department to continue to harness the positive aspects of AI and mitigate its negative impact on elections,” Olumekun said.

The INEC’s Commissioner added that the Division will enable the Commission to better coordinate and maximise existing technology investments through centralised AI governance.

“It will also enhance decision-making through data-driven insights, risk management and voter engagement. Furthermore, it will strengthen electoral credibility through predictive analytics, automation and intelligent safeguards,” he said.

Olumekun emphasized that the initiative will put the Commission in the forefront of institutionalising AI capabilities within our ICT infrastructure, noting that; “It is also an important step in our ongoing reform of the electoral process in areas that only require administrative action by the Commission.”