The warning by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, over the growing misuse of generative artificial intelligence (AI) should be given urgent attention by every stakeholder in Nigeria’s democracy.
Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative technologies of modern times. It is improving healthcare, education, business and scientific research. Yet, like every powerful innovation, it can also become a dangerous weapon when deployed by unscrupulous political actors to deceive citizens, distort public opinion and undermine confidence in elections.
The greatest danger is not that AI exists. It lies in its deliberate misuse.
Generative AI can now produce remarkably convincing fake videos, cloned voices and fabricated photographs within minutes. A presidential candidate can be made to appear to announce a policy he never supported. A governor can seemingly be recorded insulting an ethnic or religious group. An electoral official can be falsely portrayed admitting to rigging an election. An average voter who receives such material on WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok or X, may find it difficult to distinguish truth from fabrication.
This poses a direct threat to the integrity of elections.
Elections depend fundamentally on informed choices. Citizens must vote based on facts, credible information and genuine debate among candidates. When false AI-generated content floods the information space, there exists a risk of voters making decisions based on lies carefully designed to provoke fear, anger or hatred. The democratic marketplace of ideas then becomes contaminated by digital deception.
Even more troubling is the psychological effect of repeated misinformation. A fake video does not have to convince everyone to cause damage. Its circulation alone can create doubt. By the time fact-checkers establish that it is fabricated, millions of people may already have watched, shared and believed it. The correction rarely travels as far or as fast as the falsehood.
Nigerians should be particularly concerned because of the enormous influence of social media on political communication. Electoral campaigns increasingly unfold online, where sensational content spreads at extraordinary speed. In a country with deep ethnic, religious and regional sensitivities, malicious AI-generated propaganda could easily inflame tensions, trigger violence or deepen divisions before polling day.
Another danger identified by the INEC chairman is algorithmic microtargeting. This is perhaps less visible but equally disturbing. Political campaigners can use data-driven systems to send highly personalised messages to narrowly defined groups of voters. This way, it becomes possible for different communities to receive entirely different promises, narratives or even contradictory information without public scrutiny.
Such practices potentially weaken accountability because candidates can effectively run multiple campaigns simultaneously. What is promised to farmers in one location may completely contradict what is told to urban youths elsewhere. Democracy suffers when political communication becomes invisible, personalised manipulation rather than open public debate.
The challenge is compounded by the possibility that AI could be used to discredit genuine electoral institutions. Imagine a fabricated audio recording purportedly featuring an INEC commissioner discussing election results before they are officially announced. Even if completely false, such material could trigger protests and destroy public trust in the commission. Confidence, once damaged, is notoriously difficult to restore.
Therefore, Nigeria must prepare before the 2027 general elections rather than react after misinformation has already caused irreparable harm.
It is in the interest of INEC to invest significantly in digital forensic capacity capable of detecting synthetic audio, manipulated videos and AI-generated images. The commission may need to establish a specialised election disinformation and emerging technology unit staffed by experts in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital investigations. Rapid verification will be essential during election periods when every minute matters.
Equally important is collaboration. INEC cannot confront this challenge alone. Technology companies operating major social media platforms must work closely with Nigerian electoral authorities, independent fact-checking organisations and civil society groups to identify and limit the spread of demonstrably fabricated electoral content. Clear reporting channels will enable suspicious material to be reviewed quickly.
The Federal Government and the National Assembly also have responsibilities. Nigeria needs carefully crafted legislation addressing malicious AI impersonation, deepfake election propaganda and deliberate digital manipulation while protecting legitimate freedom of expression. The objective of this cannot be censorship of criticism or political opposition, but accountability for those who intentionally manufacture deceptive content to influence elections.
Political parties must equally accept ethical obligations. They should publicly commit themselves to responsible use of artificial intelligence and refrain from deploying fabricated media against opponents. Any party found deliberately circulating synthetic political falsehoods should face meaningful sanctions under electoral regulations.
Perhaps the most important defence remains an informed electorate. Digital literacy must become part of civic education. Nigerians must learn to question sensational videos, verify suspicious audio recordings and resist the temptation to share emotionally charged political content before confirming its authenticity. Citizens are no longer merely consumers of information. Through social media, they have become distributors, making individual responsibility indispensable.
Journalists also have a critical role. Newsrooms must strengthen verification procedures and resist publishing viral political material simply because it is attracting attention. Accuracy must always triumph over speed, especially during election seasons when misinformation thrives on urgency.
Artificial intelligence will undoubtedly play an expanding role in Nigeria’s future. It can assist election administration, improve voter education and make democratic engagement more accessible. But its benefits will be overshadowed if criminal manipulation is allowed to flourish unchecked.
The warning from INEC should therefore be treated not as an alarmist prediction but as a call for preparedness. Nigeria has enough electoral challenges. There is no need to add an epidemic of synthetic lies capable of confusing voters and eroding trust in democratic institutions.
The battle to protect future elections will certainly not be fought only at polling units. It will also be fought on phone screens, social media timelines and digital platforms where truth and falsehood increasingly compete for public attention. This country must ensure that technology strengthens democracy rather than becoming the instrument through which democracy is deceived.
