AI-Driven Misinformation Threat To 2027 Elections ‘No Longer Distant’…INEC
The credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 elections will be tested not only at polling units, but also in the digital information space, as artificial intelligence makes fabricated content easier to produce and harder to detect.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the misuse of generative artificial intelligence to spread manipulated audio, videos, images and targeted political narratives could undermine public confidence in the 2027 elections.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, gave the warning on Monday in Abuja while declaring open a capacity-building workshop for the Commission’s Public Affairs Officers (PAOs) from across the country.
Haruna said AI had made it cheaper and considerably more difficult to detect manipulated content, while allowing false narratives to be tailored to different groups of voters.
He described the threat as “no longer a distant, theoretical risk”, stressing that INEC’s communication officers must be equipped to identify, verify and respond to misinformation and disinformation quickly.
According to him, the credibility of INEC’s communication “begins with the work” of its Public Affairs Officers, who serve as the Commission’s frontline communicators at state level.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening PAOs Capacity for Credible, Verified and Responsible Election Communication Towards 2027,” is focused on verification, escalation procedures, consistent messaging and responsible use of AI.
Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said PAOs play a major role in shaping Nigerians’ perception of INEC and the reliability of its information.
She noted that the training was the beginning of sustained capacity-building, with further interventions already at an advanced stage of planning with development partners.
Deputy Director, Information and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, said participants would also be trained to monitor the information ecosystem, respond to misinformation and understand the limitations and safeguards required when using AI in communication.
INEC has previously warned that elections are increasingly being contested in the information space, urging the media and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts against misinformation and disinformation.
With the 2027 electoral cycle approaching, the Commission says accurate, consistent and verified communication will remain central to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
