The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan maintained that the authority to choose the country’s leaders rests solely with voters, insisting that technology would only serve as a support tool in the electoral process.
The INEC chairman made this known at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, organised in collaboration with Yiaga Africa under the theme, “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
According to a statement released by INEC on Wednesday, Amupitan stressed that technological advancements must not undermine the independence of voters or replace human judgment in democratic processes.
“AI must remain servant, not master, of Nigerian democracy,” he declared.
He further stated, “Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote.”
Amupitan explained that although algorithms could analyse data, identify trends and improve administrative processes, they lacked the authority to determine who should govern the country.
“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 said.
The INEC chairman, however, acknowledged that AI would significantly influence the electoral environment, particularly in the dissemination of information, election logistics and the activities of individuals and groups seeking to disrupt democratic processes.
“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 added.
Describing the 2027 general elections as one of the most extensive electoral exercises in Africa, Amupitan highlighted the logistical challenges facing the commission.
He said Nigeria had 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 presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state House of Assembly contests.
Amupitan also disclosed that INEC had completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones outlined under the Electoral Act 2026.
He listed some of the commission’s preparations as the procurement of additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, the digitisation of candidate nominations through the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal (ICNP) and the introduction of online voter registration.
According to him, the candidate nomination portal was processing more than 15,000 nominations submitted by 22 political parties.
The INEC chairman identified several areas where AI could improve election administration, including the planning of transportation routes for electoral materials, the auditing of election results, the maintenance of biometric voter records and communication with voters in different languages.
He also pointed to the potential use of AI-powered cybersecurity systems to strengthen the commission’s defences against digital threats.
Despite these opportunities, Amupitan emphasised that the use of technology would not eliminate human responsibility or legal oversight in critical electoral procedures.
He said decisions concerning voter accreditation, result collation and candidates’ eligibility would not be left entirely to automated systems.
“Human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain,” he stated.
The forum brought together electoral officials from Nigeria and other African countries, members of the diplomatic corps, political party representatives, civil society organisations, security agencies, technology companies, media executives and international development partners.
Among those in attendance was Abdoulaye Sylla, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions and Chairman of Senegal’s Electoral Commission.
The discussions focused on the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents to elections, as preparations continue for Nigeria’s 2027 general polls.
Amupitan’s remarks underscored INEC’s position that technology should strengthen electoral transparency, efficiency and security without replacing the role of voters or the human oversight required to protect the credibility of the process.
