INEC Establishes AI Division to Safeguard Electoral Integrity
By Princess-Ekwi Ajide,
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says in its move to future-proof Nigeria’s electoral process, it has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division within its ICT Department.
The Commission announced the development following its weekly meeting held on Thursday, 22nd May 2025, citing the growing global discourse on the impact of AI on elections from the proliferation of disinformation to its transformative role in enhancing electoral operations.
In a statement, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, noted that recent engagements with electoral bodies across the continent have underscored AI’s potential to revolutionise election management.
These benefits include data-driven decision-making, risk detection, automation of voter services, and the enhancement of logistics through geo-spatial intelligence.
He explained that the newly created division will coordinate AI initiatives, employ predictive analytics to increase transparency, and embed intelligent safeguards across Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure.
“This initiative positions the Commission at the forefront of AI integration in electoral administration and signifies a critical milestone in our ongoing electoral reform agenda,” Olumekun stated.
The AI Division is expected to enhance INEC’s capacity to manage technological investments more strategically while reinforcing public confidence in the credibility and integrity of elections through smarter, data-led systems.
