2027 Elections: INEC Warns of AI Videos, Fake Audio Announcing Poll Postponement
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that artificial intelligence-generated audio and videos could be used to falsely announce the postponement of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, potentially creating confusion among voters.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, raised the concern on Monday, November 2, during the opening of the National Summit on Electoral Information Integrity in Abuja.
Amupitan warned that individuals or groups could deliberately circulate fabricated announcements impersonating electoral officials, particularly on the eve of elections when opportunities for verification and official responses might be limited.
In his remarks, the INEC chairman explained that advances in generative artificial intelligence had made it easier for malicious actors to produce convincing recordings, cloned voices and manipulated videos capable of misleading the public.
He identified the possible circulation of fabricated operational directives, fake voter registration information and false announcements about election results or cancelled polls as some of the threats facing the electoral process.
According to him, such manipulation could undermine public confidence, trigger unrest and disrupt electoral activities even without physical interference at polling units.
Amupitan cited the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election as an example of how AI-generated content could influence the electoral environment.
He recalled that an artificial intelligence-generated audio recording, purportedly capturing a political party leader discussing vote-buying and election manipulation, circulated on social media two days before voting.
The recording emerged during an electoral silence period, limiting the ability of political actors and traditional media organisations to respond before voters went to the polls.
The INEC chairman said the experience demonstrated why public awareness campaigns alone might not be sufficient to counter coordinated and well-funded digital manipulation.
To address the threat ahead of the 2027 elections, he disclosed that the commission was strengthening its technological infrastructure and developing mechanisms to monitor emerging misinformation, identify manipulated content and issue official clarifications within minutes of its circulation.
He also identified voter education as a priority, saying the commission wanted Nigerians to understand not only how to vote but also how to verify electoral information.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC was engaging major social media platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, Telegram and X, to strengthen its response to election-related misinformation.
He specifically revealed that the commission already had a memorandum of understanding with TikTok.
The INEC chairman further called for stronger collaboration among telecommunications providers, media organisations, independent journalists, fact-checkers and security agencies.
He said journalists and fact-checking organisations should have direct access to designated INEC communication desks to verify suspicious electoral information within minutes rather than hours.
He also urged social media platforms to establish faster channels for reviewing and flagging demonstrably manipulated content that violates their policies on electoral interference.
However, Amupitan cautioned against using the fight against misinformation as an excuse to restrict freedom of expression, suppress political opposition or interfere with legitimate public debate.
He maintained that measures introduced to protect electoral information must respect press freedom, political dissent and citizens’ digital rights.
The commission is seeking three major outcomes from the summit: clear inter-agency response procedures, institutionalised fact-checking channels and practical simulations to test how stakeholders would respond to AI-driven electoral information crises.
The summit, themed “Beyond the Ballot: AI, FIMI, and the Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections”, brought together stakeholders from the electoral, media, technology and civil society sectors.
Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Amupitan said protecting the credibility of the elections would require safeguarding not only polling units and election materials but also the accuracy of information available to voters.
