INEC, Yiaga Africa push for rules to curb AI misuse ahead of 2027 elections
- A forum in Abuja has asked INEC to publish a clear framework for how AI will be used in the 2027 elections.
- Participants warned that deepfakes and false information could damage trust in the vote.
- They also want human checks before any AI tool affects voter records or results.
Election officials, civil society groups and technology experts have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to set out clear rules on how artificial intelligence (AI) will be used in the 2027 general elections.
The call came at the end of the 2026 AI and Democracy Forum, held in Abuja from 14 to 16 October. The meeting brought together INEC, tech companies, security agencies, civil society organisations, journalists and policymakers, according to a communiqué reported by Daily Trust.
Yiaga Africa was among the groups behind the push. Participants said tools that create fake videos and voices, spread false stories and attack computer systems could weaken confidence in the vote if nothing is done.
What the forum wants INEC to do
The communiqué asks INEC to publish a framework for the elections that explains where AI would be used, what risks come with it, where the data comes from and what technology vendors are responsible for.
It also wants a clear, open process for handling results. That covers the physical Form EC8A, any AI-assisted reading of figures, electronic transmission, verification, collation and how disagreements are settled.
Participants stressed that people, not machines, must remain at the centre of the process, especially where a mistake could affect a person's right to vote or the credibility of results.
They recommended independent checks before the elections, stress tests of the systems that upload and transmit results, and proper checks of what vendors claim their tools can do.
Another key point: if an AI tool flags duplicate voter registrations or strange results, that should lead to a human investigation. It should not automatically lead to deletion, rejection or suspension.
Why it matters
Nigerians have grown used to arguments over results and voter registers after elections. A fake video or a wrongly flagged voter could make those arguments worse, and ordinary voters could be turned away or lose faith in the process.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the forum's message is that new technology should be used carefully and openly, with people able to check and challenge what it produces.
The communiqué did not say whether INEC has agreed to publish the framework or when that would happen. INEC has not announced a timeline for the safeguards.
