The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has declared that algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) will not determine the outcome of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, insisting that the power to choose the country’s leaders rests exclusively with the Nigerian people.
Amupitan made the declaration at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, themed “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Naija News reports that the INEC chairman made the remarks amid growing concerns about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on electoral processes, political campaigns, information dissemination and election security.
According to Amupitan, technology must remain a tool for strengthening human decision-making, improving institutional efficiency and promoting administrative transparency rather than replacing democratic choice.
He stressed that artificial intelligence must serve democracy and not control it.
“Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote,” Amupitan said in a statement released by INEC on Wednesday.
“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,” he added.
The forum was co-convened by INEC and Yiaga Africa, with participants drawn from electoral commissions across Africa, diplomatic missions, international development organisations, political parties, civil society groups, media organisations, security agencies, technology companies and academic institutions.
Among those in attendance was Abdoulaye Sylla, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions and Chairman of Senegal’s Electoral Commission.
AI to Shape Nigeria’s 2027 Elections
Amupitan acknowledged that although artificial intelligence would not determine election results, it would significantly influence the information environment in which voters make decisions.
He said the technology could also affect electoral logistics, the speed and security of election operations, and the strategies employed by both democratic stakeholders and those seeking to disrupt the electoral process.
“While algorithms will not decide the vote, AI will undeniably shape the information environment in which citizens form their choices, influence the speed and security of electoral logistics, and alter the tactics of both democratic actors and anti-democratic disruptors,” he said.
The INEC chairman’s remarks highlight the growing importance of addressing technology-related challenges, including misinformation, cybersecurity threats and the possible misuse of AI during election campaigns.
He maintained that the commission must take advantage of technological innovations while ensuring that human judgment and institutional accountability remain central to critical electoral decisions.
INEC Outlines Scale of 2027 General Elections
Amupitan described the 2027 general elections as the largest democratic exercise on the African continent and one of the most complex administrative undertakings globally.
According to him, Nigeria has more than 103 million registered voters, with 176,846 polling units spread across 774 local government areas.
The elections will involve multiple levels of voting, including the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The scale of the exercise, he noted, requires extensive planning, effective coordination and the deployment of reliable technology to ensure that electoral operations are conducted efficiently and transparently.
INEC Reveals Preparations for 2027 Polls
The electoral commission has reportedly completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones stipulated by the Electoral Act 2026, according to the chairman.
Amupitan also disclosed that INEC had procured additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) units to support election operations.
He said the commission had digitised candidate nominations through the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal (ICNP), which was processing more than 15,000 nominations across 22 political parties.
The chairman further highlighted the introduction of online voter registration, describing it as a significant development in the commission’s efforts to improve access to electoral services.
These measures form part of INEC’s preparations for managing the extensive logistical and administrative demands of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Identifies Five Areas Where AI Could Improve Elections
While warning against allowing algorithms to determine electoral outcomes, Amupitan outlined several areas where artificial intelligence could improve election administration.
They include:
- Predictive logistics and route optimisation: Using data-driven tools to improve the movement of election materials and personnel.
- Automated result audit assistance: Supporting the examination and auditing of election results.
- Biometric database management: Improving the accuracy and quality of voter biometric records.
- Multilingual voter engagement: Applying Natural Language Processing to communicate electoral information in different Nigerian languages.
- AI-driven cybersecurity: Strengthening the commission’s ability to detect and defend against digital threats targeting electoral systems.
According to the INEC chairman, these applications could improve efficiency and help the commission manage the challenges associated with conducting elections across Nigeria.
However, he stressed that technological innovation must not come at the expense of accountability, transparency or public confidence in the electoral process.
INEC Insists on Human Oversight in Critical Decisions
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to the Human Oversight Principle, insisting that critical electoral decisions would not be handed over entirely to autonomous systems.
He said voter accreditation, result collation and candidate qualification would remain subject to human oversight rather than being fully automated.
The position underscores the commission’s stated intention to use artificial intelligence as a support mechanism while retaining human responsibility for decisions that directly affect the conduct and outcome of elections.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections continue, the challenge for INEC will be to balance technological innovation with safeguards that protect electoral integrity and preserve the authority of voters.
Amupitan’s declaration at the Abuja forum reinforces the commission’s position that technology may assist the electoral process, but the mandate to choose Nigeria’s leaders belongs to the electorate.