In a major step toward electoral reform, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Division under its ICT Department. The move is part of efforts to leverage the benefits of AI while curbing its misuse ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a statement released by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the approval was granted at the commission’s weekly meeting held on Thursday,
in Abuja.
The new AI Division will play a critical role in enhancing the commission’s decision-making process, strengthening electoral integrity, improving voter services automation, and safeguarding against misinformation and content manipulation online.
“The Commission considered the growing relevance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to elections globally and locally, and the need to proactively respond,” Olumekun said.
He explained that INEC has participated in several international engagements on AI’s impact on elections. These conversations focused on both the dangers posed by AI-driven misinformation and the opportunities AI presents in improving logistics, predictive analytics, risk detection, and geo-spatial intelligence.
The AI Division will allow INEC to centralise AI governance, maximise its technology infrastructure, and further reform the electoral process through internal administrative actions.
“This initiative positions INEC at the forefront of institutionalising AI within electoral systems,” Olumekun stated. “It is also a significant step in our ongoing reform agenda.”
