The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that voter accreditation, result collation, and electoral decisions in the 2027 general elections will not be fully automated or surrendered to artificial intelligence.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Artificial Intelligence and Democracy Forum 2026 in Abuja—co-organized by INEC and civil society group Yiaga Africa—INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), stated firmly that human judgment and the sovereign choices of voters will remain paramount.
Addressing election administrators, civil society leaders, and international observers, Prof. Amupitan affirmed that while digital tools enhance administrative speed and operational transparency, autonomous systems will never dictate electoral outcomes in Nigeria. ”Algorithms will not, and must never, decide the 2027 vote,” Prof. Amupitan declared. “As a foundational policy, no critical electoral decision, result collation, voter accreditation, or candidate qualification will ever be fully automated or delegated to an autonomous system.
Technology, however sophisticated, must remain an instrument for serving human agency, institutional efficiency, and administrative transparency.” The electoral chief revealed that the commission has already accomplished 10 of the 14 major operational milestones required under the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 nationwide elections.
He reaffirmed that INEC will continue to leverage technology to strengthen safeguards while preserving public trust in the integrity of the ballot.
You Might Also Like
