The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) in verifying election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday at a press briefing where he outlined measures being put in place by the commission for the elections.

Amupitan said the commission had created a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division under its Information and Communications Technology department as part of efforts to improve the credibility and security of the electoral process.

He explained that AI-powered auditing tools had already been incorporated into the commission’s result verification system under a five-pillar governance framework.

According to him, the application of AI would not replace human decision-making, as all AI-assisted processes would remain subject to human supervision.

“Artificial intelligence governance. The commission has established a dedicated artificial intelligence division within the ICT departments,” Amupitan said.

He added that automated AI auditing tools had been integrated into result verification, while an AI governance policy was being finalised.

The INEC chairman further disclosed that the commission was collaborating with international technology companies and other partners to introduce AI-powered systems capable of detecting unusual activities within its digital infrastructure.

He said the technology would help monitor database traffic and protect INEC systems against cyberattacks and unauthorised changes.

The planned deployment forms part of INEC’s wider preparations for the 2027 elections, which also include a nationwide mock accreditation exercise to assess the readiness of its electoral technologies.

The announcement, however, has generated mixed reactions, particularly online, with some Nigerians seeking clarification on the specific functions AI would perform during the elections.

Some questioned whether the technology would address recurring challenges involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic transmission and result collation, especially in locations with poor or unavailable network coverage.

A social media user, @EyedBluntTruth, questioned the practical application of the technology, asking INEC to clarify which aspects of the electoral process would be affected by AI.

The user also raised concerns about whether AI would resolve challenges associated with BVAS and areas where voting and result collation may still have to be conducted manually because of connectivity problems.

Another user, @Samaila222222, described the proposed use of AI as a positive development but called for greater assurance regarding the security of the system.

Similarly, @BoluAyos said the focus should be on how the technology would be controlled, the data it would access and the mechanisms that would be available to independently verify its decisions.

The user argued that the credibility of the system would depend on transparency over what happens when AI identifies an anomaly and whether independent observers would have access to audit the process.

Another user, @blackbinbaz, cautioned against excessive reliance on artificial intelligence, noting that the accuracy of AI systems ultimately depends on the quality of the data used to train and operate them.

INEC’s planned AI deployment is expected to form part of the commission’s broader efforts to strengthen election management, detect irregularities and protect its digital systems ahead of the 2027 polls.