EU warns of AI threat to Nigeria’s 2027 elections

The European Union (EU)-supported democratic governance programme has warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) to produce convincing fake videos, audio recordings and manipulated images could threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections if adequate safeguards are not put in place.

Speaking on behalf of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme, Lanre Arogundade said AI had made it possible to produce deceptive content capable of misleading millions of people within minutes, raising concerns about the preparedness of electoral institutions, the media, technology platforms and citizens to confront the emerging threat.

Arogundade spoke ahead of a two-day national summit scheduled for November 2 and 3, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, where electoral stakeholders, journalists, technology experts and civil society organisations will examine ways to safeguard electoral information integrity ahead of the 2027 polls.

The summit, titled “Beyond the Ballot: Safeguarding Electoral Information Integrity in the Age of AI,” is organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), in collaboration with DAI and International IDEA, under the EU-SDGN Programme, funded by the European Union.

According to Arogundade, the challenge goes beyond the circulation of conventional false information, as AI tools can generate realistic but fabricated content that may be difficult for the public to distinguish from authentic material.

“The challenge before us is no longer simply whether false information can influence elections. Artificial intelligence has made it possible to produce convincing images, videos and audio recordings capable of misleading millions of people within minutes,” he said.

He added that Nigeria needed to assess whether its electoral institutions, media organisations, technology platforms and citizens were adequately prepared to recognise and respond to such threats as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.

The concerns come amid growing attention to the potential misuse of digital communication technologies to manipulate public opinion, spread misleading electoral narratives and create confusion among voters.

Deepfake videos, fabricated audio recordings, manipulated photographs and coordinated disinformation campaigns could be used to misrepresent statements by political figures, circulate false claims about electoral activities or undermine public confidence in election outcomes.

The summit is expected to examine these risks and identify practical measures to improve the detection of manipulated content, strengthen the verification of election-related claims and ensure that credible information reaches citizens throughout the electoral process.

Arogundade said the gathering was intended to move beyond discussions about information disorder and focus on institutional preparedness, responsibilities and practical responses.

“Beyond the Ballot is not just another conference about information disorder. It is an opportunity to test our preparedness, examine institutional responsibilities and identify practical measures to protect the integrity of electoral information,” he said.

“Our objective is to ensure that Nigerians can make electoral decisions based on credible information rather than manipulation, deception or manufactured narratives.”

A major highlight of the summit will be an interactive simulation of an AI-driven electoral disinformation crisis, designed to test how institutions and other information actors respond when misleading content spreads during an election.

The exercise is expected to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to examine their responses to rapidly circulating false information, including the challenges of verifying claims, coordinating communication and providing accurate information during an electoral emergency.

Approximately 250 participants are expected at the summit, including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), media organisations, technology platforms, fact-checking organisations, civil society groups, government institutions, academia and other stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Discussions will also address the responsibilities of digital platforms, the influence of social media content creators, the implications of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), and the changing role of journalism in an increasingly AI-driven information environment.

Participants are expected to consider how electoral institutions, journalists and other stakeholders can strengthen cooperation to identify deceptive content, counter misleading narratives and improve public access to reliable electoral information.