The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that artificial intelligence (AI) and computer algorithms will not determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance at the AI and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja, stressing that the power to choose the country’s leaders rests with voters.
According to reports, Amupitan made the clarification while responding to concerns about whether algorithms would determine the outcome of the next general election.
“Let me, as the chair of INEC, answer it unequivocally: Algorithms will not and must never decide the 2027 votes,” he said.
He added, “Algorithms will not decide the votes because the choice of who leads Nigeria belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people.”
The INEC chairman, however, explained that the commission planned to deploy AI-based tools to improve election administration, particularly in logistics, without allowing the technology to replace human decision-making.
He said geospatial analysis and predictive modelling could help INEC plan the movement of election materials and address operational challenges.
Amupitan disclosed that the commission had tested predictive logistics optimisation during elections conducted since he assumed office on October 23, 2025.
He also said reports from civil society organisations and election observers indicated improvements in the early deployment of election materials and the commencement of voting.
According to him, some technologies already used by INEC incorporate AI components. These include the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which uses facial recognition and fingerprint technology to verify voters.
He noted that similar technologies had also featured in smart card readers previously used by the commission.
Amupitan said INEC was refining its systems to address risks associated with artificial intelligence and ensure its use complied with relevant requirements. He added that cybersecurity concerns prevented the commission from disclosing some details of its preparations.
The chairman had earlier disclosed that INEC established a dedicated AI division within its Information and Communication Technology Department to support result verification and strengthen cybersecurity ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also said the commission had integrated automated AI auditing tools into its result verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework that requires human oversight.
Amupitan said INEC was finalising its AI governance policy to guide the application of the technology throughout the electoral process.