INEC Warns AI Misinformation Threatens 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the misuse of generative artificial intelligence (AI) could pose a serious threat to the credibility of the 2027 elections.

The Commission said the risk was no longer distant or theoretical as AI tools make it easier to create convincing fake audio, videos and images.

National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, raised the concern on Monday in Abuja.

He spoke while declaring open a capacity-building workshop for Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) from INEC offices across the states.

Haruna said AI-generated content could also target different groups of voters with conflicting messages designed to create confusion and deepen divisions.

He noted that the technology had made manipulated content cheaper to produce and more difficult to detect.

The commissioner linked the emerging threat to the wider information environment in which voters make electoral decisions.

He recalled that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, recently warned that election credibility now goes beyond ballot papers, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result sheets.

According to Haruna, Amupitan stressed the need to consider electoral technology and communication as interconnected parts of the electoral process.

The commissioner said the workshop responds directly to these challenges, particularly the growing need for accurate and responsible election communication.

The training, themed “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” focuses on practical skills that officers will need as the elections approach.

Haruna described PAOs as the commission’s frontline communicators at the state level.

“The credibility of INEC’s communication, in many respects, begins with the work you do,” he told the participants.

He said the training would strengthen their ability to verify information, escalate issues and maintain clear and consistent messaging during the electoral process.

Haruna also commended the Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) Department for developing what he described as a practical and skills-based programme.

In her welcome remarks, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said PAOs play a major role in shaping public perception of the commission.

“It is through you that Nigerians form much of their impression of who we are, what we stand for, and how reliable our information is,” she said.

Eta-Messi noted that INEC operates under constant public scrutiny and faces attempts to misrepresent its activities and weaken public confidence.

She disclosed that the current training forms part of a broader capacity-building programme rather than a one-off exercise.

According to her, further training interventions are already at an advanced planning stage with support from development partners.

“This is the beginning of sustained engagement to ensure you are well prepared for your assigned responsibility,” she said.

The Deputy Director, Information and Publicity, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the workshop would improve the practical communication skills of PAOs as they handle their daily responsibilities and prepare for the 2027 elections.

He said the programme would clarify reporting and escalation channels among PAOs, heads of department, the VEP department and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

It would also strengthen consistency in press statements, talking points and social media communication.

Ifogah said participants would learn how to monitor the information environment and respond more effectively to misinformation and disinformation.

The training will also examine the responsible use of artificial intelligence in communication, including its applications, limitations and safeguards for confidentiality and verification.

Ifogah said the commission expects participants to leave with a stronger understanding of the accuracy, consistency and professionalism required in their roles.

The focus on AI and information verification comes as INEC steps up preparations for the 2027 General Elections, with the commission seeking to strengthen public confidence in electoral information.