The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan said the authority to choose Nigeria’s leaders rests solely with voters, stressing that technology would support electoral administration rather than replace human judgment and accountability.
He made the declaration while speaking at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja. The event, co-convened by INEC and Yiaga Africa, was themed “Safeguarding the 2027 General Elections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
In a statement released by the commission on Wednesday, the INEC chairman emphasised that technological tools must remain subordinate to democratic institutions and the will of the electorate.
“AI must remain servant, not master, of Nigerian democracy,” he said.
He added: “Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote. 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.”
Amupitan acknowledged that artificial intelligence would significantly influence the electoral environment ahead of the 2027 polls, particularly in information dissemination, election logistics and the activities of groups seeking to disrupt the democratic process.
He noted that while algorithms would not determine election results, AI could affect how voters receive information, how electoral materials are distributed and how electoral institutions respond to emerging security threats.
The chairman described the 2027 general elections as one of the largest and most complex democratic exercises on the African continent.
According to him, Nigeria has more than 103 million registered voters, 176,846 polling units and 774 local government areas. The elections will cover presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly contests.
The forum attracted electoral officials from Nigeria and other African countries, diplomatic representatives, political party leaders, civil society organisations, media executives, security agencies, technology companies and development partners.
Among those in attendance was Abdoulaye Sylla, chairperson of Senegal’s electoral commission and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions.
INEC Lists Measures For 2027 Polls
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had completed 10 of the 14 major operational milestones stipulated under the Electoral Act 2026.
He also listed several measures introduced as part of preparations for the elections, including the procurement of additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) units, the digitisation of candidate nominations and the introduction of online voter registration.
According to Amupitan, the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal has processed more than 15,000 nominations involving 22 political parties.
He said the commission was also exploring ways to deploy AI in election administration, including predicting logistical requirements, improving transport routes, assisting result audits, cleaning up biometric databases, providing voter information in multiple languages and strengthening cybersecurity.
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These applications, he explained, could improve administrative efficiency and help the commission address operational challenges during the electoral process.
Human Oversight Remains Central
Despite the potential benefits of AI, Amupitan stressed that critical electoral responsibilities would remain under human supervision.
He said the commission would not allow autonomous systems to take full control of decisions involving result collation, voter accreditation or candidate qualification.
The chairman maintained that electoral processes must remain subject to established laws, institutional oversight and judicial review.
“Human accountability, statutory oversight, and judicial review will remain paramount at every stage of the electoral chain,” he said.